Leigh East under 18s travelled over to Oldham to face Waterhead in the third round of the Barla National Cup.

It was the home side who started the game quickest on a very heavy pitch and they tested the Leigh East defence fully in the first 15 mins of the game.

After pinning East into their own quarter, Waterhead opened the scoring from a well placed kick to the corner and added the conversion to lead 6-0.

More safe and disciplined rugby followed from East until late in the half when Matty Rudd chanced his arm with a chip ahead. Prop forward Sean Halpin then hacked on for Rudd to score late into the first half. Brad Holroyd adding the extras to level the game at 6-6.

On an ever deteriorating pitch both teams cancelled each other out and the scores remained locked at half-time.

Waterhead piled the pressure on at the start of the second half but the visitors defence remained resolute.

In frustration, the hosts began moving the ball and a loose pass was perfectly intercepted by Adam Cairns who sprinted 70 metres to score the opening try of the half. This time Holroyd failed with the conversion.

Waterhead's frustrations further boiled over fifteen minutes into the 2nd half, resulting in both teams having a player sin-binned.

The resulting re-shuffle did not seem to have an effect on East as they continued to play disciplined rugby. This paid off as Cole Bretherton latched onto a pass from Matty Rudd to race 40m before superbly handing onto David Griffiths to score on the right edge, Brad Holroyd goaled superbly from out wide to make it 16-6.

 

As Waterhead flagged, East picked up the pace and with two quick play the balls on half way, David Griffiths raced through the resulting gap to score from 35 metres and Holroyd adding his third goal.

Waterhead rallied late on to score two late tries but it was East that won through.

It was a superb team display with the players attitudes and effort tested fully by the conditions and a quality kicking game from Waterhead. 

Leigh East will now welcome Castleford Lock Lane in the Quarter Final in May.