Leek’s penultimate home league match ended in a close defeat against a tough Blackburn side. The damage was done in the first half as the visitors started strongly, Leek sluggishly, and although the 2nd half brought hope, the Moorlanders fell just short.
Joe Byrne and James Milan started at halfback with Joe Gorman and Josh Nadin in the centres. Alex Fitzmaurice James and Sam Brereton were on the wings and Jack Newton Taylor was at full back.
Lewis Dunleavy, Ollie Powell and Joe Newton Taylor were in the front row. Joel Booth and Tom Hayes at lock. Elliott Anderson started at No.8 with Jack Bray and Connor Bassett.
Oscar Powell, Scott Rawlings and Andy Appleyard made up the bench.

On a warm, sunny afternoon, with a hard surface, the visitors took the lead on 5 minutes with a penalty goal after Leek was penalised for not rolling at the tackle. 0-3. On 11 minutes, Leek drew level with a James Milan penalty success after a Blackburn forward went over the top with Leek’s forwards under the posts with a ruck. 3-3.
From this kick off, Leek infringed, after Blackburn won the restart and then kicked for the lineout in Leek’s 22. The lineout was poor and Leek retrieved the ball but then knocked on and Blackburn pounced to score the opening try in the left corner. The conversion missed but the visitors led again 3-8 on 15 minutes.
Leek had a chance to claw back 3 points with a penalty attempt on Blackburn’s 22, but James Milan’s effort went just wide.
On 25 minutes, Blackburn scored their 2nd try on the left after a lineout on the right. The strong running centres engaged the Leek defence, which missed a couple of tackles. Blackburn’s offloading game was superb, and the wing went in for the score. The conversion was good and Blackburn increased their lead to 3-15.
Then on 33 minutes Connor Bassett was yellow carded for a late tackle and from the resulting lineout, the Blackburn forwards and backs worked an overlap on the left for the centre to score the 3rd try on 34 minutes. The conversion missed but at 3-20, Leek had given themselves a huge hill to climb.
However, from the kick off, Leek won the ball and a pass later Jack Newton Taylor skipped past 2 defenders to score on the left to give the home supporters something to cheer. James Milan converted superbly and the deficit reduced to 10-20 on 36 minutes.
As the half wound down, Joe Byrne was yellow carded for a one-handed knock down as he anticipated the pass. Blackburn couldn’t take further advantage despite a goal line siege when Leek held the ball up over the line to end the half. 10-20.

Leek started the 2nd half strongly and the first scrum elicited a penalty against the visitors on the Blackburn 22 on 43 minutes. Leek pounded the line before the ball moved to Joel Booth, but his powerful drive was held up over the line.
On 46 minutes Leek was again hunting in the Blackburn 22 and won a penalty and opted for the scrum. As the ball sped out, a Blackburn hand stopped the move, and the centre was yellow carded. Leek scrummed again and James Milan darted over under the posts after a neat dummy behind the scrum. He converted and Leek, with all the momentum were now only 3 points behind at 17-20.
Back came Blackburn and on 57 minutes a kick into the Leek in goal area left the home side with a goal line dropout. Attempting a quick short kick, the ball spiralled back to goal, then hit a post and into the path of the onrushing centre who gratefully took the ball and scored Blackburn’s 4th try. The conversion was successful and the score ticked to 17-27 on 58 minutes.
Back came Leek and on 67 minutes were scrummaging again in the Blackburn 22. As the forwards then rucked another penalty for offside from Blackburn led to a yellow card. Leek opted to tap and go and finally Ollie Powell crashed over by the posts. The James Milan conversion was good, and it was back to a 3-point game at 24-27.
Could Leek sustain the momentum. No, was the answer as they infringed at the kick off. Blackburn’s attempt at goal missed, but the pressure remained on the Moorlanders and only a desperate tackle prevented a try in the left corner on 73 minutes.
Leek cleared their lines, but Blackburn retained possession for the remainder of the game to hold on for the win.

It was a disappointing loss for Leek, especially as Burton lost at Rochdale and Blackburn moved to within 5 points of Leek in the table. Stockport beat Anselmians and that meant, with Huddersfield’s huge win against Manchester, the Yorkshire side moved to the top of the league for the first time this season.

Leek travel to Manchester this Saturday needing 6 points from their remaining 2 games, (last game v Bowdon at home on April 11th) to secure a tremendous 5th place at least this season.

The 2s recent poor form continued on Saturday as they succumbed to a 2nd half blitz from Wolverhampton 1s to lose 44-17. The loss drops the 2s to 10th spot, a place above Longton who visit St Edwards next Saturday in a crunch fixture.

The 3s were gifted an away walkover in the league by Carrington and effectively with 1 game to play can win the league with a 5-point win against Village Spartans on April 11th if the 2 teams chasing, East Manchester 2s and Marple 2s, who have to face each other yet, don’t win all their games in hand. So, a great climax to the season for the 3s to come.

The 3s played at Belper 2s in a late friendly fixture Saturday and although didn’t win, the game was good enough to keep the squad match fit.

The Colts didn’t play this weekend.

Author: J.McDermott