LOCK Lane moved to the top of the NCL Premier Division after condemning Leigh Miners Rangers to a second straight defeat.

But Miners were unlucky not to scrape a win at the Castleford-based side after coming back from 12 points down to take the lead in the second half, only to concede a late, decisive try to go down 27-24.

The home side were quickly out of the blocks and went into a 12-0 lead but Miners pegged them back with two Scott O’Brien tries, the second coming from an intercepted pass out wide, both converted by Shaun Dowie to level up the scores.

Lock Lane had the rub of the green before half time as they kicked a penalty then scored off what looked like a forward pass, before a field goal in the closing stages had them back in command at 21-12 at the interval.

That’s the way it remained until the final quarter as Miners pounded away without making the breakthrough before O’Brien’s hat-trick try, again goaled from out wide by Dowie, had the game right back in the balance.

Lane then lost possession as they went for the try line and Adam Thomason stormed clear before feeding Harry Gagen who went over for a try.

Dowie kept up his impressive kicking display to convert the try and put Miners into a 24-21 lead, the first time they had been in front in the game.

However, Lane scored straight from the restart and for all Miners’ late pressure the home side were able to close out the match.

The Alliance side racked up their biggest win of the season with a 70-12 defeat of Woolston Rovers, while the women’s side went down to a narrow 17-8 defeat at rivals Wigan St Patricks.

The first team host Siddal at Twist Lane on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm, and the Alliance travel to Rochdale Mayfield.

The Under-18s are at Wigan St Patricks on Sunday.