Saturday 12th October 2024

Regional 1 North West

Leek 22

Rossendale 38

Leek belied its lowly position in the league to give the leaders, Rossendale, a real fright at Altrad Park and in so doing, secured their first league point with a courageous performance in a thrilling game.

Changes to the team which played at Wirral, saw Jack Newton Taylor move to full back, Josh Cartlidge and Josh Nadin on the wings, with Joe Gorman and Kin Critchlow continuing in the centres. Joe Byrne and Noah Reaney were at half back.
Ed Cheadle returned at hooker, with skipper, Joe Newton Taylor and Lewis Dunleavy completed the front row. Joel Booth was partnered by Tom Hayes at lock and Ollie Powell moved back to No.8 with Brennig Hughes and Billy Kidd on the flanks.
Will Hill, Jack Bray and Josh Ballance were on the bench.

The weather was pretty benign, on a superb surface as the game kicked off with Leek clearing for a lineout on the right in the Rossendale half. The lineout was won and Rossendale's inside backs carved through the Leek defence and scored under the posts with barely 90 seconds on the clock. 0-7.
From the kick off, Rossendale cleared into the Leek half. The Moorlanders took the game to the visitors and Josh Cartlidge suffered a shoulder injury from a high tackle which brought the first of 3 yellow cards for the visitors. Unfortunately, Cartlidge had to leave the field with the injury sustained. This first one on 4 minutes. From the resulting penalty and lineout, Leek's forwards looked to have driven over the line, but the referee was unsighted. Leek continued to press as Rossendale infringed and on 10 minutes a similar lineout position on Leek's left led to another drive over the line and this time Brennig Hughes, Leek's man of the match, touched down for Leek's opening score. Joe Byrne's conversion missed but Leek were in touch at 5-7.
On 14 minutes, Rossendale pressure and a 5-metre scrum led to a score by the Rossendale 12, after Leek had tried to run the ball from behind their own line. The conversion was good, and Rossendale led 5-14.
On 23 minutes, with Leek continuing to take the game to Rossendale, and after the referee had warned the visitors about the number of penalties being conceded, the lock was yellow carded for interference at the lineout. Billy Kidd had already taken 2 Rossendale lineouts to dent Rossendale positions, but his reward from this penalty was a try of his own from the subsequent Leek line drive in the left corner. Joe Byrne converted and on 25 minutes, Leek were 12-14 behind.
From this kick off, Leek were again running the ball out of their own 22, when the Rossendale 7 was red carded for a cynical no arms shot. Joel Booth was yellow carded for retaliation as the game threatened to spill over into a brawl. Rossendale were certainly rattled by Leek's persistent running with the ball, determined to hold on to it and commitment to the tackle.
Still on 35 minutes, there was no denying the Rossendale backs again as their speed and passing beat the Leek defence for their 3rd try. The conversion was good, and it was 12-21.
Just enough time for Rossendale's 3rd yellow card as the winger's persistent calling out finally broke the referee's patience and he went to the bin as the half wound down.

Half time Leek 12-21 Rossendale.

The 2nd half saw Leek continuing to play their game and on 45 minutes, another Rossendale clearance invited Leek to run the ball back. This time the offloading broke the line and the final pass left Joe Byrne with a 30-metre dash for the line and a stunning try. His conversion hit the post and stayed out but at 17-21, Leek were still in this game.
On 55 minutes, Rossendale hit back with a try on the right after a lineout and their pace and passing was of the highest quality to secure their 4th and bonus point try. Again, the conversion was good, and the score moved to 17-28.
Back came Leek and on 67 minutes were over the Rossendale line, but the referee was again unsighted and awarded a 5-metre scrum. This time, Leek won a scrum penalty and a quick tap from Joe Byrne set the rucks up for skipper Joe Newton Taylor to crash over for Leek's 4th try. Again, the conversion from Byrne hit the post and stayed out but at 22-28, Leek were still in the game to win it.
However, it seemed each time Leek had scored, the visitors somehow put together a great move and it happened again on 73 minutes as they scored on the left. The conversion was good and at 22-35 with a few minutes to go, the game went beyond Leek. A final penalty conversion sealed the game for the league leaders at 22-38.

This game was similar to last year's at Leek with the home side in contact with 10 minutes to go, then Rossendale sealing a late win. Still the Leek squad can hold their heads high after a courageous performance which must give them confidence going into the next few games and a performance which left the last 3 efforts way behind.

In other results, Kendal beat Stoke to move to 10 points with Stoke picking up their 5th try bonus point as those clubs remain in 9th and 10th places. Leek's 1st league point keeps them in 11th as Birkenhead Park lost 10-29 at home to 2nd place old Anselmians.

This Saturday, Leek travels to 4th placed Blackburn and will be hoping to continue its improvement against a side that beat Leek twice last season. Kick-off is at 3pm. It would be great to get as many supporters as possible to Lancashire to help get behind the squad.

Leek 2s won at Rugeley 1sts on Saturday by 19-37, scoring 6 tries and maintaining 4th spot in Midland Counties 3 West (North).
This Saturday they welcome Uttoxeter 1sts to Altrad Park. Please come down and support them in what should be a very competitive match against the 2nd placed team.

Leek 3s lost heavily at Ashbourne against a side they weren't expecting to play but once again Leek fielded 4 sides this weekend with the Colts winning on Friday evening under the floodlights against Stoke by 19-17.

Author: J. McDermott