HUMBUG! That's the new war cry down at Leigh Miners.

The club paraded their new black-and-amber strip for their 3rd round Burtonwood Lancashire Cup clash against Wigan's Rose Bridge.

And the Toffee Men felt the full crunch of a determined Miners - showing that these days they have no soft centre.

Bridge, with ex-Salford and Swin star Terry Cassidy the player/coach, built up a 25-17 lead soon after the interval.

But Miners then took command to finish decisive 41-25 winners, their strength and stamina finally pushing them to the top.

They had started well, Gary Grainey and Tony Dowling crashing in for tries, both improved by Winston Sarsfield.

Rose Bridge, however, suddenly got a grip on the game and punished some slack defence to leap into the clear.

Back came the Miners, second row Sean Hodgkiss sparking the move to set up debut centre Colin Fox to dive in from short-range. A drop from Mick Warburton levelled it.

But, either side of the break, Rose Bridge blasted ahead again. It was to be their final big surge.

Miners weathered the storm with hooker Ian Sanderson leading a renewed charge and big prop Mick Williamson blasting over for a try.

Centre Steve Topping swept in for a terrific twosome, Mick Devine weaved a little magic to send Peter Sharp in at the corner and sub forward Sean Unsworth in with some relish.

In the end it was comfortable. But..

Miners A beat Heysham Atoms 34-18, hitting back after going behind 14-0.

Matt Disley and Shane Hindley began the revival with hooker Tommy Winstanley in inspired form.

Tries from Hindley, Andy Robinson, Damien Jackson (the try of the match) and Mick Evans.

Miners Alliance beat Wigan St Cuthbert's 52-0, Bob Wilcox superb in his first match, Andy Burgess grabbing a hat-trick, Jason Seddon filling in with a try and MOM performance.

Local results from the Burtonwood NW Counties Challenge Cup (1st round): Leigh Royal Oak 26 Mayfield 34, Breightmet 0 Hindley 18, Leigh Harriers 48 Preston 36; Alliance Cup (1st round): Haydock A 52 Parkside Golborne 7, Hindley 8 Thatto Heath 52.

LATEST scores from Parkside Golborne ARL..The U15s beat Mayfield 26-22, the U14s beat Hindley (Stuart Naylor 2, Danny Tickle 2, Gary Brunskill 2, Neil Bamford, Alex Pye, Paul Roberts, Steve Maden), the U12s lost 30-14 to Royton Tigers, the U11s lost 24-6 to the Tigers, the U10s lost 22-18 to the Tigers (TT R Bromilow, MOM Rachael Hindley), the U9s beat the Tigers 38-12 (MOM L Turner, TTs J Muir, J Tunstall, J Jenkinson, Merit winner was E Murphy on his debut), the U8s drew 24-24 with the Tigers and the U7s lost 40-20 to Ryland Sharks.

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