Four tries from Ben Wharton were not enough to guarantee Leigh East victory but they gave a great account of themselves against Ince Rose Bridge.

 

East fired out of the blocks with two Kieron Prescott tries in the first six minutes. The first came on the left with the fullback zipping through a hole while the second saw Prescott support on the right, glide through and then step inside two defenders on his way to the line.

 

Jay Boyd, a recent recruit from Folly Lane, goaled to make it 10-0.

 

Ince Rose Bridge responded quickly, right wing Callum Hughes finishing a good move and then Jordan Blakeley dummied his way through after 14 minutes. Influential Robbie Valentine kicked the first of four goals to level things up and it wasn't long before Valentine fired a pass left that saw Tommy Shaw scamper over. An unfortunate error from Aaron Noon saw the ball break away from him and Hughes ran through for his second try, Valentine again on target to make it 10-20.

 

East responded superbly with a passing movement down the right and a smart offload from Cobyn Fletcher saw Wharton zip in for his first try and Boyd goaled to close the deficit to four points.

 

Just three minutes out from half-time, impressive prop Jack Morrison crashed over by the posts and Valentine made it 16-26 off the boot.

 

Both sides went hammer and tongs into the new half before Callum Hughes claimed his hat-trick score after Valentine ran on the last tackle and his fourth goal stretched the advantage to 16-32.

 

Ince Rose Bridge centre Jordan Blakeley was sinbinned on the hour for a high tackle and within a couple of minutes Wharton finished excellent approach work from Zac Nicholls and Fletcher. Again Robbie Valentine was key to the next Rose Bridge score, cleverly weaving in and out of the defence before flicking the ball right for Hughes to claim his fourth try.

 

East responded brilliantly and Prescott ducked left, then right before Jay Yarwood and Will Ludlow swept the ball wide for Wharton to bump through two tacklers and over the line. There was one final try for East as Wharton chased through and latched onto Boyd's inviting kick, but Ince Rose Bridge held out to win.

 

Next week, East travel to Oldham St Annes.