LEEK 1st XV CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE RUN OF FORM

Saturday 8th January 2022

Leek 1st XV 56 v 10 Uttoxeter 1st XV

After missing the league game on December 18th and then not playing through the Christmas and New Year break....
....it was a welcome return to league action at Esterchem Park on Saturday and the Moorlanders continued their impressive run of form with an 8 try performance against a plucky Uttoxeter team that fought to the bitter end of the game.

The break has allowed several players to recover from injury and it meant 3 of them were involved in the game against Uttoxeter. Jack Newton Taylor returned on the wing with Joe Byrne and Sam Brereton making up the back 3. Rob McDermott and Adam Varley made up the centre partnership with Liam McDermott and Will Midwinter at half back.
Lee Williams, skipper Ed Cheadle and Bobby Cheadle made up the familiar front row. Joel Hine moved up to lock with Ben Barlow, allowing Ollie Powell to start at No.8 with returning Sam Lloyd and George Hunt on the flanks.
Billie Kidd was on the bench for the first time since breaking his hand along with Joe Newton Taylor and Tom Scragg.

After so much rain in the week, the surprise was that the pitch was quite firm and so an open game ensued as the rain and wind held off for a good day for rugby.
Leek started the match with indiscipline conceding 4 quick penalties before a 5th for not rolling at the tackle enabled Uttoxeter to convert a penalty to take an early lead on 6 minutes. 0-3.
From the restart though Uttoxeter tried to pass their way out of trouble in their own 22 which resulted in a knock on and scrum to Leek 5 metres from the try line. Penalised for dropping the scrum, Leek elected for another scrum and the powerful drive allowed Ollie Powell to pick the ball up and crash over for the try on 11 minutes. Will Midwinter converted and Leek led 7-3.
The 2nd try came on 23 minutes after a penalty for not releasing allowed Leek to set up a lineout on Uttoxeter’s 5 metre line. A good catch by George Hunt and strong drive led to Bobby Cheadle scoring at the back of the maul. Will Midwinter converted and Leek moved to 14-3.

6 minutes later and the visitors responded with a well worked try. Uttoxeter turned the ball over outside Leek’s 22 and went through a set of phases left and right on the Leek 22 before passing the ball back left and outflanking the Leek defence for a nice try in the left corner. The conversion was good and the Leek lead reduced to 14-10.
On 35 minutes Joe Byrne made an impressive break before Leek won a penalty under Uttoxeter’s posts. Leek elected to scrum and the drive allowed Ollie Powell to pick up and score his 2nd and Leek’s 3rd try of the match under the posts. Will Midwinter converted and Leek moved to 21-10.

There was time for one more score in the first half which secured the try bonus point. It came in added time after Uttoxeter were penalised for offside in their 22. Electing to kick for the lineout, Leek’s drive led to a ruck phase under the posts and another penalty for coming in at the side meant Leek elected to scrum and Ollie Powell duly scored his 3rd try after an explosive drive from the forwards. The conversion from Midwinter was good and the half time whistle blew with Leek leading 28-10.

Leek made 3 changes at half time and they started with a real urgency and at pace retaining ball and making the gain line. Turning over a Uttoxeter scrum led to a fine try by Adam Varley on 44 minutes who sprinted through to anticipate Rob McDermott’s grubber kick into the in-goal area. Will Midwinter converted and Leek extended the lead to 35-10.
On 51 minutes Rob McDermott scored his try and perhaps the try of the match which started in Leek’s 22 with a lineout on the left. Joe Byrne ran into the line and took the ball at pace and he then swerved and stepped his way past defenders to Uttoxeter’s 22 where he passed off to Will Midwinter. The young fly half drew the last defender before passing to McDermott who scored by the posts. Will Midwinter added his 6th conversion as Leek reached 42-10.

Uttoxeter held their own then for the next 15 minutes and forced Leek into defending their half before Joe Byrne scored the 7th try after a clearance kick from Uttoxeter only found the youngster lurking on the left wing. His pace and balance allowed him to evade 4 tacklers before touching down on the left. Will Midwinter converted and Leek led 49-10.
The final score came on 76 minutes after Ed Cheadle and his pack won a scrum against the head on Uttoxeter’s 5 metre line. Scrum half Liam McDermott picked up at the base and foiled would be tacklers to score in the left corner giving Will Midwinter a tough job to retain his 100% conversion rate. The kick sailed through the posts and Leek were up to 56-10.
The final few minutes belonged to the visitors who tried their utmost to breach the Leek line again and although they couldn’t quite manage it, they are to be congratulated for playing with positivity and courage.
The game ended in Leek’s 22 with the Moorlanders holding out and winning 56-10.

The win keeps Leek in 2nd place after Walsall won emphatically at Old Saltleians. Walsall are top with 50 points having played 12 games with Leek on 46 points having played 10 games.
Only one other game was played in the league as 3 fixtures were postponed for Covid reasons.
3rd placed Camp Hill came unstuck at rapidly improving Crewe and Nantwich. The Cheshire side won 54-7 to record their 6th win in a row which although only keeps them in 5th place on 36 points they draw level with Moseley Oak also on 36 points and only one point behind Camp Hill on 37 points.

This week Leek travels to Camp Hill in what is a must win game for the Moorlanders as Walsall host Crewe and Nantwich in another crucial game. Moseley Oak visit Tamworth and Stafford take on Newcastle.
Newcastle then comes to Leek on January 22nd in the first of the rearranged matches which will be followed by the visit of Crewe and Nantwich to Esterchem Park on January 29th.
It’s an eventful start to 2022 and we hope you can come and support the team as it
challenges at the top of the table.
All January games kick off at 2.15pm.

Author John McDermott