Saturday 28th March 2026

Regional 1 North West

Manchester 34 - Leek 33

A last minute penalty stole the points for Manchester and thwarted a brilliant second half comeback by Leek.

Leek Squad: Dunleavey, Powell (Capt), Williams, Birchall, Booth, Hayes, Bassett, Powell, Milan, Rawlings, Newton-Taylor, Nadin, Midwinter, Brereton, Byrne. Subs - Manifold, Fitzmaurice-James, Appleyard.

The Moorlanders had travelled north with a young squad, looking for a win to confirm a fifth-place finish in Regional 1 North West. But the Grove Park outfit had other ideas. They were on the front foot early, aided by repeated Leek penalties, and took the lead with a try after eight minutes.

The blue and whites rallied and came into the game. Teenage sensation Oscar Powell got them on the board with a pick up from the base of the scrum to make it 5-7. But the hosts responded almost immediately with a converted try of their own, bagging two more in quick succession to stretch their lead to 24-7. Sam Brereton's late score made it 24-12 at the half.

Breo got his second ten minutes into the second period and the comeback was on. Oli Manifold claimed the bonus point score midway through the half, giving Leek the lead. Scott Rawlings then extended the advantage to 24-33.
But the hosts weren't done. They claimed their fifth try with less than five minutes to play and then made the winning kick in the dieing seconds.

However, with both Blackburn and Bowdon also losing today, Leek will finish fifth in the league - their best every campaign. They have a break for Easter before returning to St Edward's Park for their final league game of the season against Bowdon on 11 April.

Leek 2s got a morale-boosting win after a string of disappointing losses with a 50-7 victory over Longton.
Andy Thompson's men had to battle the elements as well as the opposition, with a strong cold wind blowing across the Oval and occasional hailstorms also freezing the hands. Straight, hard running, excellent fitness and clinical finishing were more than enough to see off the visitors, who offered little but taunts and sledging in return.
The Moorlanders scored eight tries in all, with Naz Narawa and Kin Critchlow - returning to the back row position he played as a junior - both claiming a brace. Jay Wilkinson added five conversions to his try.
The 2s need at least one more win from their remaining three games to ensure Counties 2 Midlands West rugby again next season.

Author: G. Leftwich