These 2 sides finally completed the league season for the Regional 2 North Midlands and Leek completed their 9th straight win and 10th of 11 at home, thus compiling 94 points in a season where they scored match points in every game played.
The title was already won but Leek and Silhillians still put on a great rugby show for the spectators despite the underfoot conditions made worse by heavy downpours prior to the start of the match.

Skipper Ed Cheadle missed his first game of the season and Andy Thompson took his place with Lee Williams and Joe Newton Taylor in the front row. Joel Hine and Joel Booth were at lock. George Hunt was captain and along with Joe Gorman and Billy Kidd made up the back row.
Will Midwinter and Liam McDermott were at half back, with Tom Scragg and Josh Nadin in the centre. Sam Brereton, Kin Critchlow and Joe Byrne made up the back 3.
Reece Milner, Will Hill and Luke Staton, returning to the squad for the first time in a few years.

The game started superbly for the visitors after a nice kick through by the scrum half found touch on Leek’s 5 metre line with a couple of minutes gone. Leek’s lineout went awry and the Sils forwards set up a position close to the line from which they crashed over for the opening score. The conversion was good and with 3 minutes gone, Sils had opened the score. 0-7
4 minutes later and Leek equalised. A penalty for offside allowed Leek to have a lineout on the right on the Sils 22. Quick ball from it and the Leek backs worked a move which saw Byrne sprint onto the ball and crash over in the tackle with momentum. Will Midwinter converted and it was 7 all after 7 minutes.
On 16minutes, Leek took the lead with a superb try. The forwards relentlessly drove to near the Sils’ line and then passing quickly and wide with the defence sucked in, Kin Critchlow sprinted in on the left. Midwinter’s conversion missed and Leek led 12-7.
Sils had as much possession as Leek but on 25 minutes they chose to kick the ball downfield. It reached the Leek 22 where Sam Brereton gathered and set up a ruck. Still quick ball came from left to right and a couple of passes found Will Midwinter in space. He dummied a pass and then sprinted around the last defender on the Sils 22 to score under the posts.(see photo of Will rounding last defender on way to try line). He converted his own try to lift Leek to 19-7.
Despite losing a prop to a yellow card, Sils didn’t concede and actually had a 5-metre scrum as Leek tried to run the ball from their own line but a forward pass gifted Sils the opportunity. However, Leek turned the scrum over and cleared for the half to end at 19-7.

The opening 10 minutes of the 2nd half belonged to Sils as they again had a couple of opportunities near to Leek’s line but on the 2nd occasion, there was a knock and playing advantage, Sam Brereton made a fine break. Leek won a scrum on the Sils 22, and the forwards took it on before releasing Joe Byrne on the wide right for his 2nd score. The conversion missed but Leek had scored their bonus point try and led 24-7.
On 56 minutes Sils scored their 2nd try after a charge down and then good retention by the forwards and patience led to the wing scoring on the right for a deserved try. The conversion hit both posts and stayed out. 24-12.
From the restart, Sils knocked on. Leek took advantage and the forwards drover to near the line until the final offload saw Luke Staton score under the posts. Midwinter converted and the score was 31-12.
Leek scored 2 more tries in the final 10 minutes through Tom Scragg and man of the match, Joe Gorman, both from short range as the Sils forwards started to tire. The game concluded and the league season closed too with a Will Midwinter successful conversion.
45-12.

The league table showed Leek were highest points scorers with the lowest points conceded over the 22 matches and finished 13 points clear of 2nd placed Long Eaton.
It confirms a promotion to Level 5 next season, but could it be that the club plays in the North instead of the Midlands as the restructure this season will see 2 sides relegated from Midlands Premier with the 3 Regional 2 league winners promoted.

This Saturday sees the start of the Papa John men’s Community Cup. At Level 6, there are 12 winners nationally of Regional 2 leagues and together with the 4 best runners up in each Division it creates the 16 team challenge to decide the national Champions.

Firstly, the 16 teams play in their Divisional Groups. It pits Leek with Old Northamptonians who won regional 2 East Midlands, Walsall, the best runner up from the 3 Midlands leagues and Pontefract the regional 2 North East winners because in their case, Old Halesonians who won Regional 2 West Midlands did not enter the competition and so Pontefract took their place in the Midlands group and replaced in the North Divisional Group by Moortown. Hope you can follow that!

This Saturday Leek starts its 3 group games with a familiar opponent in Staffs rivals Walsall at Esterchem park. Kick-off is at 3pm.
Please come down and support the squad for what is surely going to be another epic encounter between these close rivals.

Then on April 15th, Leek travels to Pontefract and there is a coach organised. See Social Media for information.

Finally group match is away again at old Northamptonians on April 22nd.

The group winner of this Midlands Division will play the winner of the North Division on April 29th, venue to be decided.

The winner of this national semi final will play the winner of the match between the South East and South West winners at Twickenham on Sunday, 7th May.

The Leek 2nds also won promotion 2 weeks ago finishing 2nd in their league NOWIRUL South 2.

It remains to be decided if the 2s then enter the English Club Championships or play in the NOWIRUL division 1 next season.
After back to back promotions for the 2s, the club is now looking to consider the direction for next season.

On Saturday, the team hosted Southport in the league cup, winning comfortably by 73-5.

This weekend, they continue in the cup with another home fixture against Aldwinians 2nd XV, so the club will be buzzing again.

The 3rds played Tamworth and although losing to a strong opponent, the club is in great shape with 3 senior adult male sides turning out every week.

Author: John McDermott