Leek closed out their league season with another last minute defeat but won two bonus points to secure 10th place and another season at Level 5 for the 2024/25 season.

Leek made a couple of changes to the starting line up as James Floyd came back into the centre partnering Will Midwinter and Jack Newton Taylor reverting to full back. Kin Critchlow and Sam Brereton were on the wings with Joe Byrne and Rob McDermott at half back.
Jack Newton Taylor, Ed Cheadle and Ollie Powell were in the front row with Luke Hardern and Joel Hine at lock. Joe Gorman, Billy Kidd and Tom Hayes made up the back row.
On the bench were Lee Williams, Joel Booth and George Hunt.

The game was played with a very strong cross wind on a beautiful playing surface, and it helped both sides produce some scintillating handling and passing with the lead and momentum changing hands several times.

The opening 5 minutes saw Sandbach start quickly and scored a converted try and a penalty as Leek struggled to touch the ball. 8-0.
On 8 minutes though Kin Critchlow scored Leek's first try after the kick off return was fumbled. Leek's solid scum then led to a series of rucks and passing before the gap opened and Critchlow scored. Will Midwinter's conversion missed but Leek reduced the lead to 8-5.

In the next 10 minutes though, Sandbach scored 2 tries as Leek continued to offend with both tries coming from effective mauls. One was converted and Sandback led 18-5 on 18 minutes.

Leek then settled into the game and held onto the ball and Luke Hardern was rewarded with a fine try on the left after a series of penalty wins and rucks sucking defenders in. The wind prevented Midwinter from adding the conversion, but Leek again reduced the home lead to 18-10 on 27 minutes. Leek continued to press and after another series of rucks and drives with Tom Hayes and Joel Booth prominent, a ruck on the Sandback 5 metre line led Joe Byrne to dummy and sprint over for Leek's 3rd try. Will Midwinter converted and Sandbach's lead was down to a single point at 18-17 on 38 minutes and the half ended with no further score.

Kicking down hill 2nd half, Leek took the lead for the first time on 42 minutes. A penalty for over the top outside the Sandbach 22 had Joe Byrne catch the home defence napping with a quick tap and 3 passes later Sam Brereton went over in the left corner. Midwinter converted and Leek led 18-24.

The lead lasted only 6 minutes as Sandbach scored after retaining the ball well following a clearance kick from Leek. The conversion was good and Sandbach led 25-24.

Then on 53 minutes, Sam Brereton scored his 2nd try on the left after Sandbach kicked the ball away and Leek's retention and ball handling excelled. A good conversion from Will Midwinter and Leek retook the lead at 25-31.

On 62 minutes, the try of the day was started and finished by Leek's electrifying young scrum half, Joe Byrne. Leek had made progress out of defence to around halfway with a series of rucks and the then Joe dummied the scrum half after picking up and sidestepped 3 backs before gliding past the full back to score a fantastic try under the posts. Midwinter converted and at 25-38, leek only needed to control the ball to close out a win. However as in a couple of earlier games, they were unable to do so as Sandbach came back and scored tries on 70 minutes and 74 minutes with one conversion to close to 37-38 and then with the game passing into overtime, a great move off the back of the scrum saw the blindside wing come into the line, create an overlap and the centre scored by the posts. The conversion was good and at 44-38, leek didn't have the time to mount any challenge as the home side played out the final minute with the ball.

Photos attached sow Sam Brereton and Joe Byrne scoring one each of their tries.

It was a tough ending for the Moorlanders to end a first season at level 5 with this type of loss but there are some great lessons to learn and take forward as the club prepares to play its Pappa John matches over the next 3 weeks.

First up, is a trip to Scunthorpe, then Sandbach at home and finally Doncaster Phoenix away.

The Staffordshire Senior Cup Final against Burton is also on the horizon with an agreeable date still to be found. Watch this space.

Leek 2nds ended their campaign with another big win and to avenge the opening day's loss against Eccleshall 1sts. So, the 2s finish 3rd in Midlands 3 West (N) and likely play Cannock and Rugeley next season as well as Burton 3s.

Plenty of rugby still to be played this season with County Championship matches coming up in May too.