Staffordshire Cup Quarter Finals

Wednesbury 14

Leek 12

Leek travelled to Wednesbury on Saturday to contest their first competitive game of the season against Wednesbury, the side relegated from the division above Leek's league last season. Although, this was a domestic cup match, it would be the ideal opportunity to test themselves against a side usually bristling with a heavyweight pack and good defensively in the backs.

Leek were without some key players due to injury and holidays still, but they managed to take a squad of 21 players including some promising youngsters on the bench.
Ian Alcock started at fullback with Tom Laverick and Joel Williams on the wings. With Gary McDermott and Dave Kennaway at half back, the three quarters were completed by the centre partnership of James Wilson and Adam Smith.

The front row saw Luke Granger drafted in at hooker and with Jason Milner injured, Jamie Gordon came in at tight head prop with Dan Cooper on the loose head side.
Kieran Flanders and Dave Hodgkinson started in the 2nd row with skipper Adam Nettel at No.8 and Andy McFadden and Luke Staton on the flanks.

With the fortunate win of the toss, it meant Leek could choose to attack upfield first half and try to contain the heavy Wednesbury forwards and as the game started, the opening 10 minutes were pretty even as both sides felt their way into the game. Then Leek nearly conceded a try as poor tackling saw the Wednesbury backs break and kick long for the left wing to sprint onto. A good touch down by Ian Alcock prevented a try, but Leek conceded a 12th minute penalty for hands in the ruck and an accurate kick saw Wednesbury with a lineout on Leek's 5 metre line. Good defence saw Wednesbury having to use their backs to force the score and Leek won a scrum for a knock on. The pressure from the Wednesbury pack saw Leek's 8 being driven back, but a great pick and pass by Adam Nettel, saw the Leek backs show their passing skills with James Wilson receiving an inside pass from Adam Smith in his own half, sprinted around the full back and touched down under the Wednesbury posts for an excellent score. Gary McDermott converted and leek led 7-0 on 14 minutes.
Wednesbury reduced the deficit 4 minutes later when Adam Smith on a breakout from leek's 22 was adjudged to be holding on in the tackle and the Wednesbury scrum half slotted the easy kick to ease Wednesbury to 3-7.

On 21 minutes, leek were still trying to pass their way out of trouble, but a dropped ball in the centre saw Wednesbury pounce on the ball and with a quick advantage broke left and the wing scored a neat try in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed, but Wednesbury led 8-7.

This try led to concerted Wednesbury pressure for the rest of the half as they gained in confidence and saw they had a clear advantage over Leek in the tight scrum.
From the kick off, only a dropped pass prevented an easy score for Wednesbury and in the move, Dave Hodgkinson aggravated a hamstring injury and was replaced by Luke Hardern, Leek's rising 2nd row star.

On 31 minutes, on a rare Leek break, good handling saw them break into the Wednesbury 22, but the ball was lost and in the counter attack Wednesbury's fly half tried a speculative drop goal that went wide
.
On 37 minutes, Leek lost a scrum against the head as they were driven off the ball and in the pick up, Wednesbury's big forwards drove for the Leek line, where a fortunate knock on helped Leek survive again. The resulting Leek scrum 5 metres from their own line, saw a brave pick again by Adam Nettel and almost a blindside break by Joel Williams, but he was forced into touch as the half time whistle went and Leek had weathered a storm and with only a 1 point deficit, coach Ian Gittens could be proud of his team's fitness and bravery and commitment.
He made 3 half time substitutions with youngsters Jack Conlon and Mike Tyres coming on at No.8 and wing respectively for Andy McFadden and Joel Williams. James Robinson replaced Jamie Gordon at prop and with the slope in the 2nd half in their favour, Leek needed to start well to boost their confidence.

6 minutes into the half and Leek won a penalty for holding on in the tackle and McDermott's long range penalty attempt was hampered by the inability to get the ball on the tee. He decided in the end to drop kick the penalty and the ball just went wide.

On 50 minutes, Jack Conlon made a bursting run into the heart of the Wednesbury forwards and it looked like Leek were slowly getting into the game with their fitness beginning to tell, but as Leek lost the ball, Wednesbury responded with a powerful burst up the wing and a great tackle from Alcock prevented a score, but Leek unluckily knocked on in the pick up and handed Wednesbury a scrum 5 metres from the Leek line.

Good pick up and drives saw Wednesbury pound the Leek line for 2 minutes, but Leek held firm, although eventually Wednesbury were awarded a penalty for offside and the resulting simple kick extended their lead to 11-7 on 59 minutes.

At this point, young Elliott Fowler replaced Ian Alcock at fullback and on 65 minutes, leek used their 6th replacement as Paul Woodcock replaced Dan Cooper at prop.
Still Leek couldn't break the powerful Wednesbury defence and on 71 minutes, they succumbed again to a penalty in front of their own posts for offside. The simple kick went over to increase the lead to 14-7.

Then Leek's luck changed as Wednesbury dropped the ball on half way and were then penalised for holding on. Quick thinking by Dave Kennaway and Gary McDermott saw the ball speed to Adam Smith and his brave run saw him score a great try. The conversion was critical as a draw would take Leek through as winners, but McDermott's attempt went agonisingly wide and try as they might Leek couldn't get into the Wednesbury half again to mount any kind of attack to threaten a score.

In the end, Leek were left to rue the few chances they had to score, but can be well pleased about their defensive effort and their fitness and team spirit. In particular, Leek's crop of young players performed with credit and with a home league match next week to start the league season against Old Yardleians, the Leek squad should take a good deal of confidence into that game.

Please come and support them at F Ball Park with a 3pm kick off and if you can make it, Leek's Colts plays Lichfield Colts in the opening match of the season in the Staffordshire Colts league at home with a 12 noon kick off on top field.
A feast of local rugby to start the league season at F Ball Park.

Author John McDermott