Saturday 24th January 2026

Regional 1 North West

Burton 31

Leek 29

The postponed local derby was worth the wait, as the Staffordshire rivals served up a game of intensity and competitive rugby that lasted the full 80 minutes with the result in doubt to the very end.
Burton won the day with a try on 79 minutes after it looked like the Moorlanders might hold on, but the wait to defeat a team higher up the league than themselves goes on, and the compensation was the 2 bonus points won, keeping Leek in 5th place after 15 of the 22 games played.

Joe Byrne, Sam Brereton and Jack Newton Taylor retained the back 3 positions with Joe Gorman and Josh Nadin in the centre and Scott Rawlings and James Malan at half back.
Ed Cheadle was back at hooker with Joe Newton Taylor and Lewis Dunleavy making up the front row. Tom Hayes moved back to lock with Joel Booth and Ollie Powell moved to No.8 with Billy Kidd and George Hunt on the flanks.
Oli Manifold made his debut on the bench with Connor Bassett and Alex Fitzmaurice James making up the squad.

The match kicked off with the wind mainly blowing across the firm pitch and Burton scored the opening try within 2 minutes after Leek was turned over at the tackle and the Burton backs did the rest to score on the left. The conversion was good and the hosts led 7-0.
4 minutes later and Billy Kidd opened the scoring for Leek as the Moorlanders won a penalty and kicked for the lineout on Burton’s 5 metre line on the left. The catch and drive were excellent and the flanker touched down. Joe Byrne stepped up and converted and it was 7-7.
It was the start of good pressure from Leek as Burton were thwarted in attack and gave penalties away allowing Leek to move up field. On 12 minutes, another lineout inside the Burton 22 led to a maul drive. It broke up 5 metres from the line and a series of rucks near the line led to a short pass to Josh Nadin and he crashed over for Leek’s 2nd try. The conversion missed, the Burton prop was yellow carded for offside and Leek led 7-12.
On 19 minutes, the same happened again. A scrum penalty this time led to a lineout on the left in the Burton 22. The drive reached the Burton line and then a flicked pass found Ed Cheadle over the line to score Leek’s 3rd try. Again, the conversion missed against the wind, but Leek led 7-17.
Burton needed the ball and to build some pressure and it happened on 28 minutes as the quick ruck speed sucked the Leek defence in giving an overlap on the left for the wing to score. The conversion missed and it was 12-17.
Burton had the momentum now and scored their 3rd try on 34 minutes after the fly half broke the defence with a fine run. A quick ruck deep in Leek’s 22 and the centre scored on the left. The conversion was good and Burton retook the lead at 19-17.
The final minutes of the half was played out in a tight midfield area with both teams trying to unlock the other, but the half ended with no further scores at Burton 19 – 17 Leek.

The 2nd half opened with both sides looking for territorial gain and as Leek kicked the ball clear on 54 minutes, it led to a Burton counterattack. This led to a penalty and a lineout option on the left in Leek’s 22. Good retention and patience after the maul finally broke the Leek defence and with the conversion successful, Burton increased their lead to 26-17.
Back came Leek with a Joe Newton-Taylor try on 58 minutes after Leek won a turnover and then a penalty for a deliberate knock on. It led to a lineout on the right in the Burton 22 and the dynamic drive allowed Newton-Taylor to crash over for a try. The conversion missed and the score moved to 26-22.
4 minutes later and Burton received their 2nd yellow card. This was for a high tackle. The resulting lineout saw Leek's forwards driving for the line again, but the ball came out this time and after good retention, Lewis Dunleavy scored a try on the left. After the score and before the conversion, a fracas began which resulted in Joe Byrne and a Burton forward going to the bin and James Milan stepped up to convert successfully. Leek had taken the lead on 66 minutes at 26-29.
The game was being played at a furious pace as Burton looked for a reply and Leek equally as determined to continue to take the game to Burton.
As the game reached the final 5 minutes, it was a case of holding discipline as Burton made a break into the Leek half. Leek won the ball but knocked on and it led to a penalty at the scrum for Burton. The kick for the lineout led to a series of rucks near the Leek line. Leek's defence was heroic but with the ball speeding out left, there was just enough space for the centre to score. The conversion missed but Burton had retaken the lead at 31-29 on 79 minutes.
Try as they might Leek battled for the next 5 minutes to gain the territory to mount a last challenge but a knock on outside the Burton 22 finally ended the Moorlanders attack and Burton kicked the ball dead to end an enthralling match.

It was perhaps the most intense game of the season to date for Leek with the result in the balance until the final whistle and the whole squad deserves credit for the way they played and competed. It remains to be seen if any injuries were sustained, as this Saturday Leek has another tough away challenge at Wirral. Kick-off is 2.15pm.

The 2 league points gained moves Leek to 46 points and with Blackburn losing heavily at Stockport, the gap between Leek in 5th and Blackburn in 6th is 9 points. Still, it is a congested midtable, and with play offs this season, the target is to finish 8th or better not to be involved in the relegation play offs (9th and 10th places), whilst at the other end, the target for points scored and a 4th or 5th place league finish is the positive aim which is well within this squad's potential.

The 2s had a tough home game on Saturday up against the league leaders Ashbourne 1sts and although the half time score was close at 6-12, the Derbyshire team outplayed the 2s in the 2nd half to win 13-61. The result leaves Leek in 8th place with 27 points and this week will host Burton 2s at St. Edwards. KO 2.15pm

The 3s had a superb win against 3rd place Sale Norsemen by 35-17 and that win moves them up to 3rd place with 52 points. East Manchester on 60 and leaders Marple 2s on 61 are ahead of the Moorlanders but with 2 home games in hand, Leek can overhaul them. Indeed, the 3s have a 5-match streak at home coming up, so all eyes on this squad to keep the momentum going.

The Colts had a tricky away match at Stoke and in a very competitive affair, couldn't quite hold their hosts losing out by 26-17 in the end. This weekend, the Colts are away at Burton.

Author: J. McDermott