EAST Yorkshire Jonny Milner snatched an opportunist victory in the International Rally of Wales.

The 35-year-old double British Rally champion from Huggate, near Pocklington, an his co-driver Nicky Beech, took advantage of overnight leader David Higgins' bad luck, inheriting the lead after the rally restarted when Hyundai Accent driver Higgins lost time with a puncture.

Higgins dominated the early stages but a blow-out saw him slip down to third place behind Milner's Subaru in the swealtering heat and dusts of the forests around Dolgellau.

Milner said: "After David got a puncture it was there for the taking. Near the end of the stage, I backed off as I could smell the rubber and knew he had a tyre problem."

Irishman Austin McHale and Brian Murphy (Ford Focus) pipped Higgins and co-driver Craig Thorley for second place.

The youngest driver in the field, 17-year-old Matthew Wilson showed his tremendous potential by finishing fifth in his Ford Focus.

Penrith driver Paul Bird continued his recent good run of results by finshing sixth.

The rally was the second round of the Pirelli Kwik Fit British Championship which is led by Higgins with 36 points. Bird had 33 with Milner, who didn't finish the opening rally, back in sixth spot with the 20 points he collected from Wales.

Updated: 10:08 Monday, May 17, 2004