Away Win At Stoke

Stoke 3rd XV 0-32 Leek 3rd XV

on Saturday Leek 3rd XV traveled to local rivals Stoke in what was a fixture that was also played out by Leek 2nd XV while Leek 1st XV entertained Stoke 1st XV.
So it was with a lot of pride a stake and local bragging rights that all 3 teams anticipated a tough encounter from the teams just up the road.
Having easily despatched Stoke Rhinos in the first encounter at home by some 50 odd points Leek 3's were not expecting anything other than a really tough game with Stoke using their smaller pitch to their heavier pack's advantage. The game started intensively and for the first 25 mins the score remained 0-0 with Leek having to contend with Stoke's forwards picking up and going straight from one breakdown in play to another. What play Leek did manage was often thwarted by the lack of width on a very heavy water logged pitch. On 25 mins Leek managed to move the ball quickly from a ruck through the centres to winger Fairhurst who was held up 10 yards out from the try line, a resulting penalty by Stoke enabled Hicks to convert and give Leek a 0-3 lead.
Stoke's heavier pack were slowly gaining the advantage so a change of personal, bringing Smith into the front row for R.Day steadied the pack for Leek, enabling them to spread the ball to the backs thus allowing Leek to get the 1st try of the game from M.Day, the resulting conversion was missed but Leek went into the break 0-8 up.
In the half time interval Leek gained valuable confidence from Stoke's "in -house" bickering and so started the 2nd half buoyant and were soon rewarded with another try from Smith, Hicks dually converted and so settled Leek, allowing them to play confidently.
Having now managed to control Stoke's pack Leek defended resolutely and further try's from Smith, Dicksee, R.Day plus another 2 conversions from Hicks enabled Leek to register a 0-32 victory to keep them top of the Merit table and an 11 game winning run continuing.
Capt Hicks added " Once again this team spirit of the 3rds has carried us to what was a very hard fought victory. With the mixture of experience and youth and still some good players to return from holidays or injury, we are looking forward hopefully to seeing out the rest of the season where we are now "
This Saturday coming we have friendly away to Rugeley players need to meet at Esterchem Park for 12.00

Report Author:
Rob Hicks