Saturday 25th October 2025

Regional 1 North West

Stockport 36

Leek 29

The Moorlanders came up just short at Headlands Road on Saturday as the home side edged the win by 5 tries to 4.
Nevertheless, Leek came away with two bonus points and a positive performance as the next break comes this weekend before a home match v Derby on November 8th.

Joe Gorman suffered sickness overnight before the game and was replaced in the starting line up by George Hunt, as Ollie Powell moved to No.8 with Billy Kidd on the other flank. Tom Hayes and Joel Booth were at lock and Lewis Dunleavy, Ed Cheadle and Joe Newton Taylor were in the front row.
Scott Rawlings and Joe Byrne were at half back and Josh Nadin and Will Midwinter were in the centres. Kin Critchlow was back starting on the right wing with Sam Brereton on the left wing and Alex Fitzmaurice James moved to full back.
Joel Hine, Ollie Drew and Jack Bray were on the bench.

On a bright sunny afternoon with a good pitch underfoot, the only natural hazard was a strong, blustery wind blowing in different directions depending on where you were on the pitch. Leek started slowly and conceded a few early penalties. For the 3rd one in the Leek 22, Stockport opted for the scrum, but Leek’s Eight would prove dominant in this sphere of the game and Stockport with another penalty a minute later, decided to kick the goal on 7 minutes to hand them a deserved early lead. 3-0.
Will Midwinter kicked Leek level on 15 minutes when Leek won a penalty for not rolling at the tackle. 3-3.
Then Stockport scored two tries in 3 minutes. The first on 18 minutes came after Leek had won their own lineout in their own 22 and as they mauled the ball to the 22, it was stolen by the lock who then sprinted in past would be tacklers to score by the posts. The conversion was good and Stockport led 10-3. 3 minutes later, Stockport had a lineout on Leek’s 10 metre line and the No.8 scythed through the Leek defence almost to the line before quick ball allowed for an easy score. The conversion missed but Stockport led 15-3.

Leek needed to strike back and stem the tide and this they did on 24 minutes with a Joe Byrne try after he had initially kicked deep to the Stockport in goal, meaning the home side had a goal line drop out. The drop kick made their own 22, but Leek rucked quickly, and Joe Bryne darted through for his first try of the day. Will Midwinter converted and the score moved to 15-10.
The next 15 minutes was an even contest with Leek’s defence now operating and the scrum was beginning to work the Stockport forwards. On 40 minutes, as the Leek scrum moved forward on the Stockport 22, the defence was caught scrambling backwards but the quick ball left saw fullback Alex Fitzmaurice James dart over in the left corner for a deserved try. Will Midwinter’s conversion just drifted wide as the half time whistle blew with the score at 15 all.

Stockport made a front row replacement at the half, and it made an immediate difference as the new prop ran in a try from 10 metres out following a scrum on the right on 43 minutes. The conversion was good and Stockport led again at 22-15.
On 46 minutes, Stockport scored their fourth try as the forwards mauled strongly from a lineout on Leek’s 10 metre line and then converted into rucks before the defence was beaten again. The conversion was good, and Stockport extended the lead to 29-15.
It would take a strong fightback and plenty of commitment for Leek to get back into the game from here, but the squad stuck at it and were rewarded on 58 minutes. A penalty gave Leek the chance for a lineout on the Stockport 22 on the left. It led to a maul penalty 5 metres out and Joel Booth tapped quickly and crashed over for Leek’s third try. Will Midwinter converted and Leek were back to within a score at 29-22.
As momentum shifted to Leek, a clearance kick from Scott Rawlings on 70 minutes induced a knock on just outside the Stockport 22 on the right. It led to some strong rucks on just inside the 22 before a Joe Byrne trademark pick up and show saw him burst through the gap and score Leek’s 4th try under the posts. Will Midwinter converted and at 29 all with 8 minutes left, it was any teams’ game. Unfortunately for Leek, they just couldn’t quite hold it together and from a high tackle penalty on 76 minutes, Stockport had a lineout on Leek’s 22. Then Leek was penalised again on their own 5 metre line for in at the side of the ruck and although Leek defended the maul drive from the ensuing lineout well, they couldn’t hold the strong drive and the home side crashed over for the winning try. The conversion was good and at 39-29, Leek had a couple of minutes to salvage the draw but also look after the bonus points too. In the end, the latter was the best they could do as Stockport controlled possession before kicking the ball into touch for the end of the game.

This had been a good match and despite the wind, handling was excellent from all players. There wasn’t a lot between the teams and Leek can take a lot of positives from it as Stockport leapfrogged the Moorlanders into 4th spot as Leek dropped to 5th, following Huddersfield’s emphatic win at Derby and the top of the table draw at Burton with Anselmians. Only 2 points separate 2nd and 5th with Huddersfield and Rochdale playing their postponed this weekend.

Next week is a non-league Saturday as the Autumn Internationals start with England v Australia. More importantly at Leek, it is Bonfire Night, and we hope you can come down and support the club with your families and friends. Check out the website for all the details.

On November 8th, Leek welcome Derby for the first time in a league match. Kick-off is at 2.15pm.

A date for your diary next year is February 7th, 2026. This is a free league date, but Leek is playing Walsall at Delves Road in the Staffordshire Cup semi-final. Kick off should be 2.15. Keep it clear and noted in your diary. Burton plays Lichfield in the other semi-final.

Author: J.McDermott