Leigh Miners Rangers 30 Leigh East 10 - MINERS Rangers were comprehensive winners in the first of this season's heavyweight derby clashes.

The Miners repeated last season's league double and play-off triumph while East were never able to reproduce the sort of form that had lifted them to second place in the National Conference Premier Division.

Making an impressive debut for the Miners was Aussie half-back Aaron Beath while not far behind him was Ian Hodson, on a short break from his duties with Leigh RL.

It was the industry of the Miners pack that laid the foundations and arguably the smallest forward on the field, Roy Stott, was the most influential.

John Gunning worked hard for East and Dave Ellison ran strongly but generally East were disappointing.

It took the Miners eight minutes to open their account when Beath sent Stott racing in for a try that Beath converted. Ten minutes later Seam Phoenix's deft pass put winger Carl Jones in for what proved to be the first of a well-taken hat-trick.

Two miniutes later Jones was streaking over again after Hodson had supported a Lee Patterson break to put his wingman in. Beath goaled before Jones completed his treble in the 33rd minute after Tommy Goulding and Steve Flannery had split the East defence once more.

In the second half East introduced Martin Meadows and he upped their tempo but when Goulding put Glen Bracek over, there was to be no comeback for East.

Meadows crossed for a try on 56 minutes and 10 minutes from time Andy Gregson went in for a second, but the Miners wrapped up their third home win in a row when hooker Lee Lomax went over three minutes from time and Beath added his third goal.