1st XV
Matches
Sat 09 Apr 2022  ·  Midlands 2 West (North)
Leek RFC
1st XV
52
28
Stafford
1st XV Crowned Champions

1st XV Crowned Champions

Marcus Midwinter12 Apr 2022 - 08:56
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https://www.leekrfc.org.uk/tea

Bonus Point Win Seals 1st Place

Saturday 9th April 2022

Midlands 2 West (North)

Leek 52

Stafford 28.

The Moorlanders clinched the Midlands 2 West (North) title on their last home league match with a game to spare. Whatever happens on the final Saturday, Leek cannot be overtaken and so for the 2nd time in their history only, Leek will take its place at Level 6 in the rugby hierarchy next season.

Joe Byrne, Sam Brereton and Jack Newton Taylor were the starting back 3 with Rob McDermott and James Floyd in the centre. Ollie Drew and Will Midwinter were at half back.
Bobby Cheadle, skipper Ed Cheadle and Lee Williams were in the front row and Ben Barlow joined Joel Booth at lock. Ollie Powell and Bill Kidd were on the flanks with Joel Hine at No.8.
George Hunt, Joe Newton Taylor and Luke Hardern made up the strong bench.
A short snow shower preceded the 1 minute’s applause for the fallen former Ukraine captain and president of the Ukraine Rugby Football Union, Oleksi Tsybko.

The skies brightened and Esterchem Park was ready for its final chapter this season. Within the first minute, a clearance kick from Stafford found Joe Byrne on his own 22.
The young full back gathered, looked up and proceeded to glide in and out, past 5 defenders and score a magnificent try under the posts. Will Midwinter added the conversion and Leek were on their way at 7-0.
From the kick off though, the leek centres were caught offside and the young Stafford fly half coolly slotted the penalty to reduce the lead to 7-3.
The next kick off saw another error, this time from Stafford as they tried to pass their way out of trouble on their own 5 metre line. The ball was dropped, and Billy Kidd pounced on it and scored a simple try. Will Midwinter converted and doubled Leek’s score to 14-3 with 5 minutes played.
The early match scoring continued on 8 minutes with Stafford scoring on the left after leek was penalised at the lineout allowing the visitors to have their own lineout in Leek’s 22. Good passing and an overlap saw the left wing score a good try. The conversion was superb, and 24 points had been scored in the opening 8 minutes at 14-10.
On 13 minutes, a Stafford scrum in Leek’s half saw the ball squirt out of the side and Ollie Drew picked it up. Ollie Powell took the ball on over halfway, moving the ball right to create an overlap for Billy Kidd to score his 2nd try. Midwinter’s conversion was good, and Leek led 21-10.
Still the quick scoring continued as Stafford scored a penalty goal on 16 minutes as leek were penalised for holding on. 21-13.
On 23 minutes, Leek won a scrum in their own 22. Will Midwinter made the break and then got on the end of the passing move on Stafford’s 10 metre line before sprinting in for the 4th leek try on the right. His own conversion missed but Leek’s lead grew to 26-13.
Leek scored a 5th first half try on 31 minutes after a turnover on the Leek 22 saw Jack Newton Taylor and Joe Byrne sprint away for the young fullback to score his 2nd try. Will Midwinter converted and the score moved up to 33-13. Leek ended the half on the attack but couldn’t add to their score.

The 2nd half opened well for Leek and perhaps the move of the match on 46 minutes led to Ollie Powell’s try in the right corner. Joe Byrne sprinted into the Stafford half and then support from Midwinter, McDermott and Newton Taylor with an inside offload to Powell saw a great score by the young flanker. Midwinter’s conversion pushed the score to 40-13.
Stafford were still playing some good rugby and on 51 minutes scored their 2nd try on the left after strong retention and then a quick penalty allowed for the try. The conversion missed but at 40-18 Stafford were still in the game, but Joe Byrne’s 3rd try on 59 minutes put the game beyond Stafford. Sam Brereton and James Floyd combined and then Brereton again with Will Midwinter set up the pass to enable the fullback to score on the left. The conversion was missed but Leek were up to 45-18.
Leek’s 8th and final try came on 68 minutes when Joel Hine crashed over from short range after some great rucking in the visitor’s 22. Joe Byrne converted and Leek led 52-18.
Stafford, to their credit, scored two late tries to deservedly take home a try bonus point. Both were the result of good passing and support but neither was converted and the game ended with a score line of 52-28.

There were some fantastic scenes at the end of the match as the team and supporters started celebrating early and it went long into the night, so I’m told.
Special praise goes to Head Coach Joel Booth for his unstinting work, in this, his first year as a senior coach. He has done a tremendous job with the ever-present Chris Mudd as assistant coach. Skipper Ed Cheadle has also won praise for his dedication and leadership and together with the senior players and the youngsters, they have all given the Leek supporters something to be proud of.

One more game to go in the league on April 23rd at Wigginton Park, Tamworth. This will also be a tough encounter as Tamworth picked up a great win at Crewe on Saturday.

Following that game, all eyes will be on Sunday May 1st when the Staffs Intermediate Cup Final is played at Burton’s superb new facility on President’s Day. KO is 3.30pm with the Owen Cup Final Handsworth v Barton kicking off at 1pm.
There is a coach leaving the clubhouse. Please contact Mark Hardern or Carol Fryer to book your place.

Author: John McDermott

Match details

Match date

Sat 09 Apr 2022

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Midlands 2 West (North)

League position

1
Leek
7
Stafford
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Sponsor - Altrad
Team and Player Sponsor - Allmet
Team Sponsor - Leek Signs
Player Sponsor - FMF Construction
Player Sponsor - Faulker Powell Mortgages
Colts Team Sponsor - Waterer Dental Care
Player Sponsor - ESTERCHEM
Club, Mini and Junior Sponsor - Leek Building Society
Game Sponsor - Brian Mellor Financial Services Ltd
Club Sponsor - Moorland Classic Cars
Club Sponsor - Dear Barber
Club and Player Sponsor - EasyFix Emblems Ltd
Club Sponsor - H. Meakin and Sons Ltd
U13 2017-18 - Team Sponsor - Ornua Foods UK Ltd
Player and U15's Team Sponsor - Mounsey Chartered Surveyors
Club Sponsor - Breeze House
Club Sponsor, player sponsor - Investco Land Ltd
Shorts sponsor - Taylormade
Player sponsor - The Barns at Alderlee
Player sponsor - Wheel n Tyres
Player sponsor - Therapy with Katie
Club and kit sponsor - Adept Vehicle Management
Player sponsor - Standon House Management Ltd
Kit sponsor - Bury & Hilton