Leigh East travelled to Overthorpe Park looking to improve their away record and edged a full blooded contest at half-time.

East made a solid start to the game with Tom Worthington nudging over a second minute penalty to give them an early lead. The hosts struck back two minutes later when second row Wayne Wilson grabbed the first of his two tries and former professional James Craven was next to the line in the ninth minute. Both tries were goaled by George Woodcock and the hosts led 12-2.

Leigh East responded through a close range effort by Tai Tupou in the 20th minute to reduce the deficit to 12-6 but the visitors then saw Jake Beaumont sinbinned for retaliation.

With East temporarily reduced to twelve, Thornhill made it count when scrum half Scott Dyson picked up from dummy half and dived over the line. The Trojans led 16-6 before East got their act together in the last ten minutes of the half. With forwards running and challenging the middle, East moved close and just as it looked like substitute Zac Nicholls was held up, he managed to get an offload away for captain Adam Holland to crash over. Worthington goaled and was on target again on the stroke of half-time. This came after Adam Wilkes and Louis Else had gone route one into the home twenty metre zone and Jordan Hellam scooted over from dummy half.

Leading 18-16, Leigh East needed a good start to the second half but after Else lost the ball on the second tackle, they didn't see possession for seven minutes.

For much of the time, valiant defence kept the hosts at bay before Hellam found himself sinbinned for tackling from an offside position. Twice Thornhill raided down the right only to be denied before Dyson lauched a kick crossfield. Unfortunately Chris Dootson was outnumbered and despite getting hands to the ball  it was Will Gledhill that touched down. 

There was no conversion but Thornhill led 20-18. Minutes later Craven saw a second try disallowed and East went on the counter attack. They made good ground until a big tackle brought a heavy landing for Dootson. The visitors were given the penalty with Luke Haigh sent to the sinbin for questioning the decision. Against the run of play Thornhill turned defence into attack and George Woodcock ran clear down the right wing and converted to open a 26-18 advantage.

Thornhill were then temperoarily reduced to eleven when Will Gledhill was sinbinned  but East couldn't take advantage and Haigh returned from the bin to run in a crucial try beneath the posts. Woodcock added his fourth goal before East theatened a late comeback. Hellam turned try provider with a high kick. East chasers contested it and the ball broke for James Parkinson to claim the try with nine minutes remaining. Worthington added his fourth goal and it was 32-24 to the hosts.

Any nerves were soon settled for Thornhill when Wilson pushed through for his second, giving Leigh East just too much to do.