Leek’s head coach Joel Booth picked himself at lock, partnering Ben Barlow and with Bobby Cheadle back helping Ed Cheadle and Joe Newton Taylor in the front row, the front 5 looked very solid. Joel Hine started at no.8 with Ollie Powell and Billy Kidd on the flanks.
Dan Needham started at scrum half with Liam McDermott moving to fly half. Rob McDermott and James Floyd held the centre partnership with Joe Byrne, Jack Newton Taylor and Sam Brereton making up the back 3.
Ollie Drew, Tom Fairhurst and Sam Lloyd made up the bench.

This rearranged game got underway at the County Ground with Leek kicking right to left as the strong wind blew across the pitch. Stafford were unable to secure the kick-off, Leek got on the attack early and a high tackle on 3 minutes gave Liam McDermott the opportunity to kick the penalty and give the visitors an early lead. 0-3.
On 12 minutes a Leek scrum on halfway gave the backs on the big blindside a chance to run the ball and with full back Joe Byrne getting into the line, took an inside pass from Jack Newton Taylor to scorch in for the opening try in the left corner. McDermott missed the conversion against the strong wind but Leek increased their lead to 0-8.
Leek continued to dominate possession and territory as Stafford infringed but the hosts defended well until conceding a penalty on their 5-metre line on 23 minutes. Skipper Ed Cheadle opted to scrum and then good retention and patience at the ruck enabled the defence to be sucked in so that with quick passing left Jack Newton Taylor went over unopposed for Leek’s 2nd try . Again, the conversion missed but Leek were up to 0-13 .
Through their scrum half Stafford broke from their own 22 on 31 minutes but the final pass in the tackle went forward after a solid tackle from Joe Byrne. He was called into action minutes later as Stafford broke down the right wing and again the pass in the tackle went astray.
The half ended with a Joe Newton Taylor interception and intelligent kick deep into Stafford territory forcing Stafford to defend a dangerous position and kick dead to end the half.

Half time 0-13

The 2nd half started brightly for Stafford, pinning Leek near their line for phases, before on 49 minutes, they scored their first try in the left corner after a quick tap penalty under the posts caught Leek slow in defence and good hands had the left wing crossing in the corner. The conversion missed but at 5-13 the game was nicely poised.
6 minutes later, Leek responded in kind when Joel Hine was at the back of a strong maul to crash over. The move started after a quick tap by Joel Booth from an offside decision. He set up the maul with Leek’s forwards moving as one to get Hine over the line. The conversion from McDermott was good and Leek led 5-20 on 57 minutes.
Back came Stafford, winning a series of penalties which led to the 2nd home try on 66 minutes near the posts. The conversion was good and at 12-20 it was still game on.
From the kick-off, Leek won a scrum for a knock on and then a penalty as the scrum turned. The kick for the lineout 6 metres from the Stafford line led to a Ben Barlow catch and then a strong drive for the line saw man of the match, Joe Newton Taylor crash over for the 4th and bonus point try. The conversion just missed but at 12-25 with 10 minutes to go, Stafford would need 2 scores to win.
Well, on 75 minutes, Stafford were pressing in Leek’s 22 and Ollie Powell was yellow carded for team offences. It led to further pressure and great work by the forwards setting up the passing for an overlap and try in the left corner. The conversion missed but at 19-25 there was still 5 minutes to go.
However, the kick-off was again recovered by Jack Newton Taylor and Leek spent the last minutes camped near Stafford’s 5 metre line. Eschewing a shot at goal in the final minute, Leek opted for a line and kick to touch to hold on for a tough win against a determined Stafford.

The win increased Leek’s lead to 6 points over Walsall (66 points to 60 points) with both sides having played 14 games. Co-incidental then that the sides meet this weekend at Delves Road for what is sure to be an exciting encounter. Moseley Oak (51 points) won at Old Salts to keep the pressure on the top 2 as they move ominously into 3rd place with a game in hand which is against Stafford (42 points) in 3 weeks. Moseley Oak still have to visit Leek and Walsall later in the season and Stafford has to play all 3 sides so plenty of twists and turns left to this season. Longton sit in 4th place on 47 points and Leek visit their old rivals in 2 weeks.
Kick off at Walsall is at 2.15pm

Author: John McDermott