Leek secured level five rugby at Altrad Park next season with a nine try demolition of Northwich - the 64-20 final score representing their biggest win of the season.

The bonus point was secured at half time with a magnificent display of attacking rugby, with Will Midwinter all but perfect off the tee, too. The boys were rightly delighted at the final whistle, a great way to mark our Centenary season.

Both sides came into the game knowing that only a win would do. Northwich started the stronger, spending the first ten minutes camped in the Leek half. But resolute Leek defence meant they had only a penalty to show for it.

Leek's pacy backs have been threatening to cut loose in recent games, and today was the day when it all came together. An outside break from Jack Newton-Taylor saw Northwich scrambling to get back and his pass allowed James Floyd to stroll in behind the posts, Midwinter converting (7-3).

The Moorlanders were firmly on the front foot now. Rob McDermott seemed to have all the time in the world waiting for someone to pick an angle - Kin Critchlow finally obliged to cross for the first of his four tries (14-3).

The teams then swapped penalties before Floyd and Critchlow both benefited from swift passing along the line to secure the try bonus point in the first half (31-6).

Northwich struck first after the break, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly snuffed out. Leek were running from deep and pulling the cover defence one way and then the other, forcing gaps that they exploited ruthlessly.

Joe Byrne was next to cross, before Oli Powell claimed one from close range to give the hardworking pack some glory (45-13). A quickfire brace wide on the right from Critchlow put the game beyond doubt, and on a cold, windy day, Midwinter could be forgiven for missing one of the conversions.

Northwich scored a late consolation try, but Leek had the last word, Billy Kidd bursting through two would-be tacklers to cap a brilliant day for the blue and whites.

There was another freescoring display from Leek 2s up on the top pitch as they ran out 86-0 winners against a scratch Aldridge team, with the game being called after 60 minutes. Leek ran in 14 tries to cement their third place in the Counties 3 Midlands West (North) league.