LEEK 2S RIDE THEIR LUCK TO EDGE WIN OVER BOWDON

Saturday 25th February

NOWIRUL Division 2 South

Leek 2nd XV 40

Bowdon 2nd XV 39

Leek 2nds rode their luck to edge a close one against visitors Bowdon.

The Moorlanders were outscored seven tries to six in a game strewn with missed tackles and turnovers. But kicking from the tee proved crucial - man of the match Harry Byrne made five conversions, with his one miss hitting the post, whereas Bowdon made only one of theirs.

The game looked an even contest from the start, with both sides keen to give the ball some air. Leek got on the board first - a miss pass from fly half Ollie Drew creating space for winger Tom Willshaw. He kicked ahead, outpaced his opposite number and hacked on to score under the posts (7-0).
Tom Fairhurst, playing out of position on the other wing, soon added a second after a flowing move along the back line to make it 12-0.
But Bowdon came back strongly, using their heavyweight forwards to punch holes in the Leek midfield before moving the ball through the backs. They were awarded a penalty try when a drive for the line was stopped by a high tackle (12-7) and drew level shortly after with another close-range effort.
Bowdon went ahead soon after, their continual sidestepping and moves back inside sowing confusion in the Leek defence, only for Ryan Day's score to even things up again (19-19).
The back and forth continued, with Jack Fryer scorching through the Bowdon defensive line to put Leek back in front, and the visitors responding with their fourth shortly before the break (26-24).

Bowdon - belying their bottom of the table status with a combative display - opened the second half scoring and added another ten minutes later (26-34).
With both teams tiring on a cold, windy day and multiple positional changes needed following a string of injuries, the game became a fractured, stop-start affair.
Leek desperately needed the next score and centre Tom Grindey duly obliged, crossing the line after a rare period of sustained Leek possession. Then Drew spotted a gap in the defensive line and darted over to make it 40-34.
But Bowdon weren't finished. They spent the final five minutes camped on the Leek line, finally scoring with the last play of the game. It finished in controversial circumstances, with the Leek tee the visitors had been using throughout the game suddenly disappearing. The conversion had to be taken without a tee, was duly missed, and Leek won by a point.

Author: GRAHAM LEFTWICH