Dockers beaten late on

HULL Dockers lost to Leigh Miners Rangers for the third time in the last two months, this time 34-20 in the National Conference.

In an entertaining game, Dockers battled back from 20-6 down to level at 20-20 before Miners hit back to boss the last 15 minutes.

After a tense opening, Miners took the lead when Scott O'Brien's deft kick was gathered one-handed by Liam Coleman to send Tom Bradbury over.

Dockers responded immediately when skipper Chris Stephenson dummied his man danced under the posts.

But Miners took a stranglehold on the game with tries from Kieron Damty and Danny Jackson, with Bradbury's three goals making it 20-6.

Just before the break, wing Robbie Smith was first to Stephenson's kick to touch down and after the interval Jon Eccles' kick through ricocheted for Martin Johnson to gather and ground.

It was all square on 60 minutes when Smith was first to Stephenson's kick to score his fourth try in two weeks.

But Miners then turned it on from here and late scores from Ryan Smith, Adam Thomson and a fine solo effort from Luke Murfin sealed their victory.

Dockers coach Lee Richardson said: "We were competitive and in the game until the last 10 minutes and the effort was great.

"Four or five of our performances didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

"We were just not quite there in key areas."