East travelled to local rivals St Judes full of confidence after a great win at Bradford the week before and in a first half forty minute battle completed 24 sets for a 100% completion record. Although East on another day would probably have put the game to bed, they just couldn’t take advantage of all the field position and it has to be said that Jude’s defended with real passion and simply didn’t buckle under all the pressure. 

In fact they took their limited chances with real professionalism and on the back of only two penalties marched up the field to score two tries, both of which were converted from the touch line. On their very first attack Dean Hunt put in a pin point high kick on the left and Scott Robinson rose above the Leigh East defence to gladly accept the ball and score. Robinson goaled for a six nil lead.

East came right back with great flowing rugby and the impressive Ike Watene sliced through a tired Jude’s defence to score, the conversation was missed and Jude’s still led six points to four. 

East once against piled on the pressure but Jude’s held fast and after some great approach work scored a superb try, Connor Parkinson grabbing his first of three for the afternoon. 

Approaching half time Balmer, Rowley, Wilkes and Ball upped their intensity to make great yards from deep and along with indiscipline from Jude's….. Finally cracked the Jude’s defence to score two quick fire tries. Ball danced over the whitewash from close range with several defenders struggling to get back and Josh Swift hit a great line from a slick Watene pass to score just at the side of the posts. Tom Worthington converted both tries and East led 16-12 half time lead. 

With East seemingly in control the hooter was the last thing they wanted to hear.

After the break Jude’s fired back quickly and looked to determined not to let home advantage slip. A dangerous run from Scott Robinson saw him feed Joey Brady with a great pass to score with inches to spare on the left, Robinson obliged with a touch line goal. 

Paul Pendlebury, Gavin Rodden, Nathan Bevan, Brett Taberner, Nathan Moore, Dave Fagan, Luke Barrett, Dave Walls and Barry Rothwell came into their own in the second period with some surging runs repeatedly taking play into Easts half. The next storming charge over the half way line set up a try for Connor Parkinson, his second of the afternoon for an eighteen points to twelve lead. 

With the game in the balance a breakaway attack by Easts saw Gavin Roddens fantastic cover tackle catch Leigh's flying standoff and dump him into touch right on Jude's line. From then on Jude's confidence grew and they smelt victory was theirs. 

East did have some rest bite though and having been starved of possession for most of the second half, took advantage of two back to back penalties to march up field. Watene once again took advantage and jigged his way past two or three defenders to score. Worthington converted and the scores were locked at twenty two all. 

After that East really didn’t get close and when a powerful Paul Pendlebury run was halted just inches from the line, his and his sides determination to not let the game slip away saw him somehow squeeze over the line with two or three defenders in attendance. This was the match winning effort and when Robinson slotted the two the game was over as a contest. In the dying seconds Jude's had the final say when hard working centre Connor Parkinson got his third to seal the win.