60 - 16

14/01/2012 (National Cup)

Leigh East started their 2012 campaign off with a comfortable 60-16 win in a BARLA National Cup match against NWC Div 1 side Rylands Sharks from Warrington. Under the new coaching team of Gary Grainey, Paul Anderson and John Taylor, East included a few close season signings, James Otutaha (centre), Adam Thomas (second row), Ryan O’Toole (prop) and Greg Evans (prop). Plus a few youngsters making their move from u18’s to open age, Nicky Ratcliffe (hooker), Sam Grainey (second row) and Connor Johnson (hooker).

East registered seven first half tries and four conversions, centre Gavin Hunter bagging a hat-trick. Rylands scoring a try with the score at 10-0, the sides going into the break at 36-4.
Within minutes of the restart Danny Kilshaw added to his first half brace to also complete his hat-trick. Rylands responding with two converted tries, but East had too much pace and power, scoring four further tries and three conversions. And booking a place in the second round.

Following the switch of the majority of the Amateur game to Summer, only five NCL teams entered this years competition (Leigh East, Siddal, Hull Dockers, Ovenden and Shaw Cross Sharks), only two surviving the first round, Siddal and East. By some stroke of fortune they were drawn against each other in the second round of the competition to be played on Saturday 11th February at Ledgard Avenue. Probably the best pre season preparation possible leading up to a new league campaign, two of the strongest amateur teams of recent years head to head in a full competitive game just three weeks before the season kicks off on 3rd March.