PILKINGTON Recs fell to defeat in their first game in NCL Division One 24-8 at Leigh Miners Rangers.

Rangers made better of the heavy conditions.

It was a quiet first half as both teams struggled to get a foothold in the game but it was the Rangers who scored first as Todd Felham got in right on the brink of half time. Josh Reynolds missed the conversion but they lead 4-0 going into the break.

Pilks needed to score first in the second half and they did as Jake Hodson got in out wide within a minute of the restart.

Danny Lynch missed the conversion meaning the scores were level.

Hodson missed another cha cue to get the ball down and it would prove costly as Jake Lloyd managed to get over from dummy half after a penalty earned the field position. Reynolds scored the conversion and added a penalty to stretch the lead out to 12-4.

Then came the games turning point as Ryan Hilliard was sent off for tripping an opponent with ten minutes to go.

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to make the extra man count as Adam Thomason managed to step his way over.

Reynolds hit the conversion to take the game further away from Pilks.

However, Pilks did get back in it not long after as Hodson grounded his second try of the game.

Lynch was again unfortunately off target as the lead was reduced to ten points.

But the reprieve was short lived as Joe Digby managed to find another try late on. Reynolds added the conversion to rub salt in the wounds for Pilks.

The Amdec MOM went to Tom Roughley.

It’s not the start Pilks were looking for, but they can recover in the Challenge Cup at Coventry Bears next week.