Leigh East 96 v Stanley Rangers 6
04.06.16

East needed to bounce back in the league and they did so in style, taking full advantage of a depleted Stanley Rangers side to eventually run out 96 - 6 point winners. 

Josh Adi grabbed a hat trick, Andrew Ball dominated the middle with four tries of his own and Tom Worthington kicked 16 out of 16 to cap a fine afternoon. 

East were actually trapped on their own line for the opening exchanges and Stanley used the neat kicking game of stand-off Grice to make East work hard but after ten minutes of pressure east marched up field and it was Ball who scored his first of the afternoon, with a trademark dart over the line after great work from Balmer, Wilkes and Rowley. Worthington converted and the floodgates opened.

East dominated the first half and went into the sheds 42 points to nil….. Balmer, Adi, Tapou and Penn all crossed the white line in a first half blitz. 

East could have taken their foot off the gas after the break but they didn't and within 15 minutes they had added another 30 points.

Billy Aldred and Josh Adi scored the pick of the tries in the second half with 80 yard sprints, Mafi looked strong every time he touched the ball and Jay Yarwood making his first team debut also stood out from the crowd. 

Stanley finally got on the scoresheet late in the game when Johnny Dickinson managed to squeeze over in the corner. Grice goaled from the touch line but the respite was short lived as East once again turned on the afterburners and scored another 24 unanswered points.

Stanley were obviously depleted but East dominated possession, completed at over 80% each half and never let up. Stanley are a much better side at home and will get their chance to put a few things right when East travel to Stanley in the league in only three weeks’ time.

(Report courtesy of Leigh East)