Leek 1st XV made the trip down the M6 to Shirley in Birmingham to play 3rd place Camp Hill, historically a tough away fixture for the Moorlander's. Cold misty conditions meant that one other game at Camp Hill was already cancelled due to a frozen pitch but the 1st team pitch had thawed out sufficiently for the main game of the day to be played.
Leek had an unchanged front row of Lee Williams, Eddie Cheadle and Bobby Cheadle. Joel Hine switched to Lock partnering Ben Barlow with Billy Kidd returning to the starting line up joining George Hunt on the flanks and Ollie Powell at number 8. Liam McDermott and Will Midwinter were the half backs Rob McDermott and James Floyd resumed their partnership in the centers, with Floyd making his first start since November after a hamstring tear. Sam Brereton and Jack Newton Taylor were on the wings with Joe Byrne at fullback. Joe Newton Taylor, Luke Hardern and Tom Scragg were all on the bench ready to make an impact.
Camp Hill took the kick off and had the advantage of the sloped pitch in the 1st half. After 2 minutes the Home team were awarded a penalty on the 22 mtr line for offside, the kick was good and they took a 3-0 lead. On 5 minutes Leek were awarded a penalty for a high tackle, Rob McDermott kicked for touch giving the visitors a lineout 10mtrs out from the Camp Hill try line. The ball was collected cleanly from the lineout but the resulting maul was defended and 2 phases later Camp Hill managed to kick the ball clear, Joe Byrne was on hand and ran the ball back inside the 22 mtr line, a couple of phases on George Hunt picked the ball through the ruck and sprinted clear to score the opening try of the game in the corner, 3-5 Will Midwinter missed the conversion. On 11 minutes Leek were again awarded a penalty which Rob McDermott once more kicked to the 5 mtr line for a lineout to the visitors. The boys in blue executed cleanly and formed a maul, Camp Hill managed the rip the ball but the Leek pack forced them back over their own try line giving the visitors a 5 mtr attacking scrum. The ball was whipped out on the blind side at lighting speed for Jack Newton Taylor to score in the corner, Will Midwinter added the conversion 3-12.
The next try came from a Camp Hill knock on, the referee allowed advantage to be played the Staffordshire side gathered the ball with Joel Hine carrying and drawing defenders to him, Billy Kidd reacted fastest at the breakdown picking the ball up to sprint under the posts from the half way line, Midwinter added the conversion 3-19.
The visitors were now dominating proceedings as the home side tried to move forward, (20 minutes) Bobby Cheadle put in a thunderous tackle dislodging the ball, the Leek backs moved the ball wide and Joe Byrne beat 2 defenders from 25 mtrs out with excellent footwork to score under the posts, Midwinter kicked the conversion 3-26. During the build up to the try a Camp Hill player sustained a neck injury and as a precaution the game was suspended for 20 minutes as he was assessed, fortunately the player was able to get to his feet and leave the pitch without serious injury. The delay in the game took the wind out of Leek's sails and seemed to galvanize Camp Hill, from the resumption of play the home side had their best period of the game. The Moorlander's defence was put under continuous pressure but outstanding effort and technique meant there was no way through the blue line. On 29 minutes a number of penalties against the visitors resulted in Captain Eddie Cheadle being given a team warning from the referee. Camp Hill continued to attack deep in the Leek half and still the trojan work ethic of the visitors defence prevented the home side from capitalising on the territorial advantage. On 40 minutes the referee gave Bobby Cheadle a yellow card for a no arms tackle. Camp Hill frustrated by their inability to break through the solid Leek defence elected to kick for posts but the penalty was missed. Half time score 3-26.
In the 2nd half Leek had the advantage of the slope. Head coach Joel Booth now introduced all three of his subs, Camp Hill with their numerical advantage began to dominate possession but the visitors defence stood strong and while Camp Hill dominated possession the defencive dominance of Eddie Cheadle and his troops saw Leek start to have territorial advantage pushing the hosts back into their own half. The Moorlander's were now up to full strength with the 10 minutes of the sin bin over. On 55 minutes after 2 successive lineouts the Leek pack moved a maul up to the Camp Hill try line but the home side held firm, the ball was moved across the backline with Jack Newton Taylor bursting over to grab his second try of the day. Midwinter added the conversion 3-33. The tide had now turned and the Staffordshire side had space to play Will Midwinter grubber kicked through the line collected his own kick and beat the last defender to score and converted cleanly 3-40. On 66 minutes another break from the backs saw Midwinter tackled close to the line, the Leek pack quickly secured the ball and scrum half Liam McDermott pounced to score, Midwinter converted 3-47.
The Moorlanders continued to press and sensed more tries were available, Camp Hill to their credit kept working but on 72 minutes Midwinter again grubber kicked through the defensive line with the mercurial Joe Byrne sprinting clear and gathered the ball to score his second try of the day. The conversion was missed 3-52. Joe Byrne was not finished and completed his hat trick in the corner following a clean move through the backs. The conversion was missed final score 3-57.

This was an outstanding performance from the entire Leek squad not only for the 9 tries scored but equal if not more impressive was the defencive strength shown by the entire team. The hard work put in on the training field is paying dividends. This must continue as the season progresses and the games come thick and fast. Walsall stay top on 55 points after a 31-15 win over Crewe & Nantwich, Leek are second on 51 points with 2 games in hand. Mosley Oak are 3rd with 41 points after a win at Tamworth 13-28.

This Saturday Leek welcome North Staffordshire rivals Newcastle to EsterChem Park KO 2.15pm