LEEK v WHITCHURCH, MATCH REPORT

....to contend with and a crisis of availability.

Ollie Drew started at full back with Dan Sharratt and Tom Laverick on the wings. James Floyd and Nick Palmer were in the centre and Gary McDermott with Dan Needham were at half back.
Skipper Bobby Cheadle, brother Ed and James Milner were in the front row. Phil Tomczak and James Hall were at lock. Luke Staton at No.8 was flanked by Andy McFadden and George Hunt.
On the bench, Leek had Lee Williams, Andy Thompson and Reece Milner.

The game was 55 seconds old when Whitchurch’s flanker collected the ball on Leek’s 10 metre line after it had been stripped in the tackle and ran in unopposed for the opening try. The conversion was excellent and the visitors led 0-7.
On 4 minutes, Leek won a penalty at the scrum and kicked for the lineout in the Whitchurch 22. The ball was lost and although Leek’s forwards won it back, the ball was eventually knocked on and Whitchurch cleared. It was to be the only time in this abject first half that Leek had any threat.
Leek was penalised on 9 minutes for bringing the maul down off the lineout drive from the half way. A quick tap gave the visitors another 10 metres as Leek infringed. The kick for the line in Leek’s 22 had the Shropshire pack catch and drive over the line for an unstoppable try. The conversion missed but at 0-12 the visitors were full of confidence and looking for more.
On 27 minutes Whitchurch had another lineout on Leek’s 22. The drive took them to Leek’s 5 metre line when it was stopped by an offside player coming in at the side. Lucky not to receive a yellow card, Whitchurch’s confidence meant they went for the 5 metre line this time. Leek defended the next drive with some choice hits into the maul and as the scrum half sprinted away, great defence stopped him near the line. Leek won the ball and Nick Palmer cleared.
However, the pressure was still on Leek when a speculative 35th minute kick into the Leek 22 had the Leek defence in disarray. The ball was allowed to bounce and as is the case in these instances, fortune favoured the brave, as the speedy Whitchurch scrum half, following up, collected the ball near the line and scored the visitors’ 3rd try. The conversion missed but at 0-17, Leek had completed a miserable opening half of rugby from which the only way was surely, upwards.

H/T Leek 0 – 17 Whitchurch.

The regroup at half time did make a big difference as Leek came out with a purpose, missing in the first half. 4 minutes in and James Floyd crashed his way into the Whitchurch 22 after Leek stole a lineout. A slow release, gave Leek a penalty and quick thinking Dan Needham took the tap and scored a try near the posts. Gary McDermott converted and at 7-17, hope was restored.
Leek had another advantage on 50 minutes, when the scrum half, who had been superb, was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Gary McDermott on half way. Pressure was mounting on the visitors and Leek won a penalty on Whitchurch’s 10 metre line for not releasing in the tackle and McDermott stepped up to add another 3 points. 10-17 and it was game on now.

On 58 minutes, a Leek lineout on half way had Dan Needham collecting an untidy ball. As he ran infield he threw an interception pass and the flanker ran to near Leek’s line. A desperate tackle held him up, but Leek was penalised for not moving away. Whitchurch opted to go for the lineout and a catch and drive had them scoring their 4th try as Leek failed to stop the powerful drive. The conversion missed but the bonus point 4th try for Whitchurch effectively sealed the game at 10-22.
Reece Milner came on at the restart and lasted 30 seconds as he was yellow carded for stamping and the Whitchurch scrum half came back on at the same time. Still McDermott nudged a 40 metre penalty over on 66 minutes for an offside offence and at 13-22, one more score was what the Moorlanders needed to get a point.

Leek had that chance on 70 minutes as James Floyd burst through to near the Whitchurch line after good retention by the Leek forwards. A penalty ensued on the 5 metre line for slowing the ball and the decision to go for the try backfired as Tom Laverick couldn’t take the Dan Needham pass near the line. It was to be Leek’s last chance as Whitchurch closed out the game with a 5th try on 82 minutes following a penalty for not releasing in the tackle. The lineout near Leek’s line was well defenced but a series of rucks softened the defence and the ball was then fed wide right for the overlapping full back to score in the corner. The conversion missed, the whistle blew for full time with the score at 13-27.

A better 2nd half for Leek as they edged it 13-10 but the first half performance , not taking anything away from Whitchurch, was where the game was won and lost.
The loss leaves the Moorlanders in 12th place with Walsall beating Silhillians meaning there is a 4 point gap between those 2 sides and Leek at the wrong end of the table.

This week is the Rugby World Cup Final weekend and no league fixtures will take place.
The clubhouse is open all afternoon with kick off for the final between New Zealand and Australia at 4pm.
Come and enjoy the atmosphere and check out which southern hemisphere giant wins Rugby’s ultimate prize, The Willian Webb Ellis Cup.

Leek return to action on November 7th with a trip to Bourneville. Kick-off is now at 2.15pm until March.
Leek’s next home fixture is a renewal of a game which will require no introduction as Bridgnorth visit Leek for the first time since the epic Midlands Cup final match in 2014. The Shropshire side went to Twickenham themselves last year and are acquitting themselves very well in Midlands 1 and will be a tough test for the Moorlanders on November 14th. KO 2-15pm.

Author John McDermott