The Hunt brothers were missing in the centres so Leek welcomed back Shane Dicker at 12 and James Floyd moved from the wing to 13, allowing Adam Smith to play on the right wing and Nick Palmer on the left-wing.
Ian Harris and Gary McDermott continued at half back with the improving Jack Newton-Taylor at full back. The front row saw Ed Cheadle start at hooker with Jason Milner and Jamie Gordon at prop. Tom Sims and Luke Hardern were at lock and Luke Granger, Andy McFadden and the returning Ad Nettel were in the back row.James Wilson, Dan Needham and Bobby Cheadle were on the bench.

Leek started at a pace and were on the Salts 22 in 2 minutes. A scrum for the visitors was turned over by Leek’s smaller 8 and a pick up and drive down the blind side set up a quick ruck. Back inside for another ruck, allowed Ian Harris to deliver quick ball to Gary McDermott who sprinted through a tackle as he approached the salts line. A neat pass to half back partner Ian Harris saw the scrum half dart over for the opening try. McDermott converted and with 2 minutes on the clock Leek had started well at 7-0.

Leek continued to play at the high tempo and it took Salts some time to find their feet, but on 13 minutes McDermott added another 3 points after an offside decision to increase the lead to 10-0.
4 minutes later and Leek were looking to play wide when an interception by the left wing saw him palm the ball forward, catch it on the run and sprint in for a try. The conversion missed but Leek’s good lead had been eroded and it led to a complete change in the game with Salts now taking control. Only strong defence from Leek kept Salts out and on 29 minutes Ed Cheadle was yellow carded and it seemed only a matter of time before Salts scored again, but actually despite the pressure McDermott had a chance, on 33 minutes, to add 3 points after Salts were penalised for handling in the ruck. The kick went just under the bar however and Salts regained the upper hand as Leek's indiscipline cost them territory. On 38 minutes, after holding the big Salts pack up from a 5 metre scrum, the next scrum saw the No8 pick up and go down the blindside where he scored a deserved try. The conversion missed and the half time whistle blew with the sides all even at 10 all.

Ed Cheadle came back on at the half and it was to be hoped that Leek could turn the tide with better possession, but the 2nd half started with Salts commanding all the good ball. James Floyd was caught offside on 43 minutes and Salts spurned what looked like an easy 3 points on Leek’s 22. Leek then defended the pressure before Floyd left the field injured on 46 minutes. Dan Needham came on at scrum half as Ian Harris moved to centre. 2 minutes later and Salts missed a penalty for another Leek offside. Still the pressure came on to Leek and on 52 minutes another penalty for in at the side saw a successful penalty from the full back, which handed Salts the lead for the first time at 13-10.

Wilson came on for Hardern at lock and Dan Needham was trying to exert his influence on the game and get Leek back into a competitive position. He nearly set up a try for Nick Palmer on 58 minutes, but indiscipline again caused a penalty for Salts to clear. On 64 minutes Shane Dicker burst for the line but a knock on handed the ball back to Salts. The clearance kick on 65 minutes was poor though and handed Leek a lineout in the Salts 22. A good catch and drive saw Jason Milner with the ball at the back of the maul and Leek’s forwards were trundling towards the line when the referee blew his whistle. He had seen Luke Granger and the Salts captain having an altercation off the ball and red carded both men. This seemed to affect the visitors more than Leek as the momentum swung back to the Moorlanders.

A clearance kick on 68 minutes saw Nick Palmer field the ball on Leek’s 10 metre line. His pass to Taylor and then to Dicker up the left wing caught Salts defence out and following a maul 10 metres from the line, Dan Needham picked up and drove for the line with Ian Harris. He touched down for an unlikely score and McDermott’s excellent conversion gave Leek the lead back at 17-13.

Still Leek weren’t done and on 78 minutes another promising attack was foiled and Andy McFadden was yellow carded for handling in the ruck near the Salts line, but Leek managed to hold on for the last 2 minutes and sneak a tight win.
On balance, Salts’ possession was enough to have won the game, but Leek’s determined defence and sometimes Salts’ decisions meant the match was in the balance throughout and the neutrals would have agreed it was a great advert for local rugby as Leek’s spirit and fitness won the day.

In the other 5 games the scores were all close which suggests it’s going to be a competitive season.
Next week sees Leek on their travels when they visit Stafford. Kick-off is at 3pm.

On September 28th, Leek will entertain Dronfield in the RFU Intermediate cup at Esterchem Park, kick off 3pm. It is also the Rugby Club’s beer festival weekend. Please come along and support your local team.