It’s early days yet this season, but there is no denying the improvement Leek 1st XV squad has made over the pre-season and into the first 3 games of this campaign. The score line reflected the defensive and offensive platforms being deployed and with a week off next week, it is a well-earned rest ahead of a batch of 4 successive games in October for the players. Well done to all of them and the coaching and physio staff too.

Unavailabilities of Ed Cheadle and Alex Fitzmaurice James meant Ollie Powell moved to hooker with Lewis Dunleavy and skipper Joe Newton Taylor. Joel Booth and Tom Hayes were at lock. Billy Kidd came into the backrow alongside Joe Gorman and George Hunt.
Jack Newton Taylor moved from full back to right wing, covering Alex, with Josh Nadin retaining his spot on the left wing and Rob McDermott made his seasonal debut at full back. Jack Bray, Will Hill and Joel Hine were on the bench.

The weather looked ominous leaving Leek, but in Nottinghamshire the weather remained overcast and still, with only occasional rain during the match and so on a good surface the game kicked off with Leek dominating early possession without threatening, until after 12 minutes Scott Rawlings was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.
2 minutes later and Leek took the lead after a penalty led to a lineout on the left inside the Long Eaton 22. An initial drive preceded close rucking, until Joe Byrne cross kicked to Jack Newton Taylor. He caught the ball on the bounce and weaved past 2 defenders to score on the right wing. Will Midwinter kicked the conversion and Leek led 0-7.
On 29 minutes, Long Eaton had a penalty and kicked for the 5-metre lineout in Leek’s 22 on the right. As happened throughout the afternoon, the Leek jumpers won the ball, but the ruck was set up close to their own goal line and when Joe Byrne brought the ball back to clear, it was already in goal, and the alert hooker touched the ball down for a try. The conversion hit the post and stayed out and it was 5-7.

On 33 minutes, after a Leek scrum, Joe Byrne took a quick tap penalty and after a patient build up in the home 22, Jack Newton Taylor went over for his 2nd try, this time beating 3 defenders. Will Midwinter again converted, and Leek led 5-14.

Tie for one more Jack Newton Taylor try before half time when a lineout on the left on the Long Eaton 22 was followed by a good maul. The ball was fed to Scott Rawlings and his long pass to Jack on the right wing in space gave him the chance to beat 2 men again and score Leek’s and his 3rd try of the half. This time the conversion missed but the half time whistle blew with Leek deservedly leading 5-19.

That Long Eaton didn’t score a point in the 2nd half was not only due to Leek’s defence but also to a couple of yellow cards which both then resulted in Leek scores in the final quarters. Nevertheless, Leek started with a successful Will Midwinter penalty struck for offside, from the Long Eaton 10 metre line on 45 minutes. 5-22.
On 52 minutes, Billy Kidd was carded for not retreating, following a quick tap penalty from Long Eaton, but the home side couldn’t take advantage. Then on 67 minutes, with Long Eaton’s forwards near the Leek 5 metre line, the No.8 was yellow carded for off feat entering the ruck. The resulting clearance then led to Joe Byrne working his way half the length of the field and into the Long Eaton 22. In the tackle, his pass went forward frustratingly, but from the resulting scrum, Long Eaton knocked on and the scrum on the left in the 22 gave the Leek backs the chance to run. A wayward pass to Will Midwinter, which fell behind him, momentarily flat footed the defence as they realigned, but in recovering the ball, Will darted through a gap and over the line for Leek’s 4th and bonus point try. He converted and Leek were up to 5-29.

From the kick off, Joe Byrne took the pass, and he proceeded to carve his way through the whole home defence and scored a try on the right. Will Midwinter converted and at 5-36, it was damage limitation now for the home side. Their cause wasn’t helped with another yellow card in midfield on 78 minutes and as the clock moved to overtime, Scott Rawlings broke through tackles and Joe Gorman was on hand to score Leek’s 6th and final try. Will Midwinter converted and the game ended after the kick off was caught and the ball kicked to touch. 5-43.

A below par Long Eaton will surely improve, and after beating Derby on the opening day and coming up against Huddersfield last week, they will expect a big reaction for their next game on October 4th at Manchester. The defeat drops them to 11th and Leek’s win takes them into 2nd place on 12 points, 1 point ahead of Huddersfield and Bowdon on 11 points with Stockport on 10 points and Burton on 8 points.

Leek’s next game is at home on October 4th against our Staffordshire rivals, Burton. The two teams haven’t met in the league for over a decade and never at Level 5. It will be an eagerly anticipated game and kick off is at 3pm.

Unprecedented on the day, is the Leek 2nd XV league fixture in the league too, against Trentham 1sts.
The club is trying to negotiate an earlier kick off for the 2s so that we can stagger the facilities to cope with the expected crowds for both matches.

If you can travel to the club without a car, please do so, or try to fill your car with others to reduce the pressure on space.
More information will be forthcoming as the club organises the management of the day.

Check out BigLeek whatsapp group or contact a club official if you have a question.