LEIGH Miners Rangers made the most of their Ladbrokes Challenge Cup reprieve with a hard-fought victory over Walney Central at Twist Lane on Saturday.

Having been handed a lifeline by the RFL earlier in the week when their first-round defeat by Hull Dockers was overturned because their opponents had fielded an ineligible player, the Miners were made to battle all the way and while the final scoreline reflected two Walney tries in the final two minutes, it was no more than the Islanders deserved after pushing the hosts all the way.

Centre Chris Larkin, who spent the closing stages in the sin bin, and scrum half Jamie Morrow were stand-outs for Walney while Scott O'Brien, Darryl Kay and Haydn Bud Skinkis were the pick for Miners.

The visitors drew first blood when Jordan Staffieri crossed out wide and Mark McKinley converted, but Miners were ahead by the break first as O'Brien dummied and dived in at the posts, adding the conversion, and then set up Connor Ratcliffe for his first score in Miners' colours.

Right on the whistle Miners had a commanding advantage as a strong Kay surge and offload set up Tommy Parkinson who in turn put Ellis Grimes over for the try.

Walney were back in the game when Larkin blasted in at the corner but Miners had the decisive advantage as Skinkis scored twice, first finishing from slick passing along the line then with his footwork bamboozling the defence to score out wide.

Walney never threw in the towel and two late tries, first from Connor Pearce and then a three-quarter-pitch break by Danny Vial gave them plenty of consolation.

Miners: Jimmy Muir, Harry Gagen, Adam Thomason, Ellis Grimes, Haydn Bud Skinkis, Tony Doyle, Scott O'Brien, Matt Astley, Tom Farrimond, Darryl Kay, Tom Parkinson, Danny Jackson, Dave Rowlands Subs - Connor Ratcliffe, Danny Jones, Brad Hargreaves, Chris Bowers.

The win earned Miners a third-round tie at home to West Hull on the weekend of March 7/8.