Leigh East 7 Queens 17 - Queens clinch BARLA National Cup to end triumphant season

That much was clear from Saturday's Ace Insurance (Europe) BARLA National Cup Final at Fylde, where coach Richard Milner's team were deserving 17-7 winners over a Leigh East side rated as favourites to add amateur rugby league's major knockout prize to the National Conference title and Championship trophies.

Queens went into the last 11 minutes 7-4 behind and, in rainswept conditions, that three-point margin was not insignificant.

But the sheer class of stand-off Jonny Milner helped turn the tables on a memorable afternoon on which the Yorkshire League giants made many friends for a disciplined approach on and off the field.

Milner had already helped create Queens' opening try, his trademark grubber-kick bamboozling Leigh; former Hunslet Hawks centre Steve Morton getting to the ball first.

And there was something of a repeat, in the 69th minute, when Milner – voted man of the match – again kicked to the right corner, where right winger Ryan Walker flew in for a try that put Queens ahead for the first time.

Milner converted from the touchline, and added a drop goal three minutes later to put his side in the ascendancy.

Victory was sealed when, with East threatening in midfield with an overlap, left-winger Simon Cook – in his last game because of a leg injury – pulled off an interception to race unchallenged to the posts, with Milner adding the conversion.

Cook said: "They were two-to-one on us, and it was either going to be a try to them or to us. Their player passed it, I went for it, and the next thing I knew I was under the posts.

"I thought I was unlucky to have a touchdown ruled out in the first half, when a pass by centre James Brown was judged forward after he'd stolen the ball in a crash tackle, but that made up for it.

"They say you're only as good as your last game, so I have to be pleased."

Leigh East: R Fieldhouse; A Groves, C Redford, G Pemberton, G Hunter; R Peters, A Holland; C Wingfield, D Kilshaw, L Rowley, J Taylor, C Millington, G Middlehurst. Substitutes: S Stephens, C Mort, B Longstaffe, J Walker.

Queens: O Al Rawi; R Walker, S Morton, J Brown, S Cook; J Milner, R Robinson; S Houston, R Wilks, A Ali, M Stockdale, C Boot, C Luke. Substitutes: A Spence, S Parker, S Wilks, J Winter.

Referee: N Byers.