Leek 1XV vs Burton 1XV

Midlands West 1

Leek 8

Burton 5

Leek eked out a narrow win against Staffordshire rivals Burton on Saturday in a low scoring game which keeps the Moorlanders still in with a shout of avoiding relegation.

The earlier season meeting between these 2 sides resulted in a 99 point, 16 try fest, but there was to be no repeat of that at EsterChem Park as the game was mainly controlled by the defences with few scoring opportunities available.
Nevertheless Burton took only 6 minutes to register their only score of the game when a penalty for offside allowed a kick for a lineout about 8 metres from the leek line. A simple catch and drive had the Burton forwards crashing
over the line on the left corner for a try. It remained unconverted and Burton led early at 0-5.

Liam McDermott missed a 17th minute penalty for holding on in the tackle before Leek drew level on 23 minutes.
A lineout win and drive towards the Burton line then saw Dan needham throw a loose pass out. The ball bounced in front of the Leek backs which froze the defence and as it was gathered up, Liam McDermott came into the line to
Create the overlap allowing left wing Matt Leadingham to score his first try for the senior team. McDermott couldn’t add the conversion but at 5 all, it was going to be a close game.

Burton created another lineout chance close to the leek line on 28 minutes but this time the Leek defence was aggressive and drove the attempted maul backwards before winning a scrum to clear.
The rest of the half was a midfield affair and so half time was reached with the sides locked at 5 all.

The 2nd half start was littered with lost ball on both sides and on 50 minutes a clearance kick from the Burton fly half nearly caught Leek out. The bounce of the ball favoured the Burton centre and it took a fantastic tackle by James Floyd to peg the
Attacker just shy of the Leek 5 metre line. A scrum and penalty allowed Leek to then clear.
5 minutes later and Leek was pressing on the Burton 22 with a good maul followed by some rucking at which the Burton No.8 was yellow carded for not releasing. This was to prove the decisive moment in the match as Liam McDermott stepped up
To convert the goal and hand Leek the 8-5 lead on 57 minutes.
Back came Burton on 62 minutes and it looked like they were scoring a 2nd try when a desperate tackle on the line knocked the ball forward for Leek to escape
.

The final 10 minutes were played in the Burton 22 as Leek then piled on the pressure. A 75th minute move almost ended with a Burton interception but instead a knock on allowed a 5metre scrum to Leek. An offside and another scrum had Leek’s forwards
rucking furiously at the Burton goal line and the Burton scrum half was yellow carded for not rolling away as the infringements mounted.
As the game entered added time it looked like Jason Milner scored a try from another ruck but the referee was unsighted. Then Leek lost the scrum on the 5 metre line and Burton cleared but time ran out for a last attack for the visitors and Leek held on
for a deserved win.

The win moved Leek above Silhillians and with 5 games remaining it still looks a long shot for Leek to overhaul Crewe who lie 16 points ahead of Leek.
All Leek can do is keep trying to win and this week’s rearranged fixture is against Stoke at EsterChem Park. The Barlaston outfit has had an impressive run of late pulling away from the bottom of the table to sit comfortably in mid division.
It will be a tough test for Leek but thy will not be in need of any motivation against their most local of rivals.

Kick-off is being negotiated between the 2 clubs presently as the England v Wales 6 Nations decider kicks off at 4pm. This will be shown live on the big screens in the clubhouse along with Ireland and Italy from 1.30pm.
Food and drink available all day.
It is likely that there will be a 2pm or 2.15pm kick off for Leek v Stoke. Get there early to park on site.
Check the website for further details.