MINERS DIG DEEP TO OVERCOME STRONG SIDDAL CHALLENGE

LEIGH MINERS RANGERS 28 V SIDDAL 18
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE PREMIER @ TWIST LANE 23 MAY 2015 2.30PM

TWIST LANE HQ OF LEIGH MINERS RANGERS

A storming second half display saw Leigh Miners put on a performance to beat a powerful Siddal side who at times in the first half looked like they would come out the victors in this entertaining encounter.
A little more about the game shortly but for the blogs second journey this summer into NCL action it was time to take a trip to Twist Lane the home of Leigh Miners Ranger and been as this was the only game in the NCL today it was not a difficult choice.  However I have had so many people on my travels and Mr Chris Ryde sing the praises of this club I was more than delighted to take a look at them especially after I had seen them last week at Lock Lane in a very competitive and close match.
As the research during the week pointed out no train station in Leigh it was a case of getting to Manchester over the peaks and either getting to Victoria for a train to Atherton and then a bus the 3 miles to Leigh or catching an X34 straight through to Leigh out of Piccadilly Gardens.  The latter was chosen and with a little time allotted for a look around, departure was just shy of 9.30 from base station.  Interestingly after leaving Sheffield we were informed by the trains ticket inspector that a revenues protection officer was on the train and all tickets passes etc should be available after being told for around the third time and being now slightly worried said gentleman appeared with stab proof type jacket on, small camera to record his inertactions with passengers and with out thankfully legal tickets we were allowed to remain on the train!  At Stockport a family off to the sunny climbs of the west coast were very late in getting off the train for their connection and this resulted in a very close shave as the parents raced off the train and with their children in shock they were very nearly left on the train, never seen anything like it!

LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK AND LEIGH!

Following arrival at Manchester the required stop at Piccadilly Gardens was spotted and before to long we departed on the X34 to Leigh via Salford, Astley etc.  On the way into our destination we saw an impressive juniors ground for Leigh Miners and just before this for the football historians a ground for Leigh RMI Juniors, there's a name from the past.
Having set off an hour or so earlier it did leave us a little space to fit in a few extra's so firstly a quick circuit of the town of Leigh which was quite underwhelming and looked to be a struggling centre we spotted to nice advertising features above one fashion shop the headline London, New York, Paris and Leigh! plus the Three mobile phone shop situated within Surpedrug with the tag line 'Three in Leigh'.   Time for lunch.... we popped along to the nice, new and modern Colonel's place for a quick lunch time snack, it would be rude not too, just a short drop goal away from the former Hilton Park. 

MAIN [?] ENTRANCE TO LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE STADIUM 

NICE LIGHTS

Thankfully there was still time too pop along to the newish Leigh Sports Village en route passing over a bridge that gave a view of our ultimate destination LMR Twist Lane ground.  Following the ten minute walk we arrived at the 'sports village' firstly seeing Leigh East ARLFC's ground and HQ and then moving on large Morrison's and hotel sidled up to the main stadium home of Championship rugby side Leigh Centurions, the most standout feature is the floodlights bend high over the stand roofs. 
We did a circuit of the outside of the ground but sadly there was no chance of a look inside.  To the far side we also encountered the Leigh Harriers Athletics track.  The stadium is used by Blackburn Rovers and quite a few other clubs but although impressive was disappointing in that its immediate frontage has a chemist and doctors surgery as its highlight.  Of course the link is sport/fitness and health go hand in hand but a more prominent welcome to this lovely facility would have been more fitting.

FIRST VIEW OF LEIGH MINERS WELFARE

So about turn and back to our much recommended destination and upon approaching the Leigh Miners Welfare and impressive building and entering the ground to the right of this by the bowling green we received a warm welcome from the gateman in his impressive former car park style booth.

A QUEUE FORMS TO ENTER THE GROUND

JEFF FROM MINERS AND KIRSTEN FROM SIDDAL
 CATCH UP BEFORE THE GAME

Having received our hand stamp for proof of payment, which was by the way an excellent £2.50 with excellent programme, we ventured in to the welfare for the call of nature and then a small glass of lemonade in the spacious bar area, which was today operated by a very attractive squad of ladies.  So after a small rest we took up a circuit of the ground for some photo and once again there was a warm welcome from the club to us as visitors.  I have said this before it means a lot to receive a nice hello etc. and our experience more than backed up what people had told us about Leigh Miners as being just that a friendly club.  There was also time to have a nice little catch up with Siddal secretary/photographer and first aider Kirsten McIntosh.
So to the ground well its dominated by the two storey welfare which covers half of the entrance touchline below this is the stewards house and then the now extended changing rooms the original version was opened by Joe Gormley former NUM General Secretary, also within this section is a snack bar which looked very good and now we know there is one we will be utilising next time.

CHANGINR ROOM OPENING BOARD

The dug outs are opposite one another for a change with the visitors surprisingly being allocated the ones on the changing room side.  Down this side there is some hard standing with grass also featuring.  Behind the far posts is a grassed area and behind the posts at the entrance end a very tight strip of grass for you access the far side which is completely grassed where standing is also behind a railed area.
The Miners website, twitter feed and programme are well noted within the Rugby League world and also noteworthy today was the use of a clear PA system a unique experience again at NCL Rugby League game.  By the time kick off time had arrived I had managed to secure both teams and take up a position on the far side of the pitch out of the direct and bright sunshine with the crowd flocking in I estimated around 250 spectators for this encounter.

Siddal stormed away to a 10-0 with some powerful play that seemed to shock leigh who were struggling to get going.  Thankfully for the game Miners got on the score sheet with a try on 26 minutes but it was Siddal who went over again just moments before the break to lead 14-4 at the break.

Last week had seen Leigh storm out of the traps at Lock Lane in the second half and today was again no exception.  Within 5 minutes a try and excellent conversion from Shaun Dowie pulled the scores back to 10-14 and then just 3 minutes later The Miners powered over in the corner to pull it level at 14-14.

Siddal were not finished though and Billy Hammond went over to once again take the lead for the visitors. But Leigh Miners now had the bit between their teeth and three minutes later levelled the scores again before two superb tries on 74 minutes and 80 minutes the first of which was converted by Dowie to give the Miners a tremendously exciting victory 28-18 on referee Tony Martins final whistle.  [Small note the tries 5 mins into the 2nd half,74 minutes and 80 were a tremendous hat trick and after a little checking through the NCL website and excellent miners site are to the credit of the team and the power of Bradley Hargreaves, exciting stuff in the second half]

A cracking game that swung one way then the other in which Leigh Miners secured a victory with superb spirit and which Siddal had contributed so much too over the 80 minutes, as per last week Leigh seem to start and play in the second half get the first half right and they may be unstoppable.

Journey reversed from Leigh bus station to Manchester and a relatively quiet journey back to Derbyshire and we had a little time to discuss a very enjoyable day.
Leigh were recommended for a visit and I must say as a club they did not disappoint a nice little club trying to do things right many clubs at NCL level don't always promote themselves well but as previously mentioned Miners have a good social media set up. 

THE SCOREBOARD BEFORE ANY ACTIVITY

I'm not sure why other clubs don't promote as well I have mentioned in last weeks blogs there are many non league football fans now looking for some live sport in the summer months and I reckon some of them have missed a treat in not promoting themselves through the non league football circuit.
Anyway the blog has certainly enjoyed its first two NCL games and would recommend a visit to Leigh Miners without a doubt well worth supporting their efforts.

STAGECOACH X34 DROPS US OFF IN LEIGH BUS STATION