Saturday 19th February 2022

Longton 1st XV (7) v (22) Leek 1st XV

Leek bounced back strongly from the defeat last week and took maximum points at Longton to retain top spot in the league.
With the effects of storm Eunice still evident, the pitch had large areas of standing water and the Longton ground staff worked their magic to clear the worst puddles and allow the game to proceed in blustery wet conditions.

Lee Williams returned to the front row to join Eddie Cheadle (Capt.) and Bobby Cheadle. Head Coach Joel Booth & Joel Hine were the locks with Ollie Powell at No 8, George Hunt and Luke Staton on the flanks. Liam McDermott was scrum half with Will Midwinter returning at fly half following recovery from injury. Rob McDermott & James Floyd were the centre pairing and the back three were Sam Brereton, Jack Newton Taylor and Joe Byrne.
Sam Lloyd, Ben Barlow and Ollie Drew were named as finishers.

Leek started the game playing against the slight slope with the wind blowing across the pitch. From the kick off the visiting pack took the initiative and forced the home side back. The conditions did not suit running rugby and clean ball was hard to come by with both sides struggling to play with continuity. On 5 minutes, the visitors won clean ball off a line out, Ollie Powell burst clear breaking through the Longton defence. His offload found the on rushing Rob McDermott who again moved the ball wide through the back line to winger Sam Brereton who coolly stepped inside his man to score a try on the left. Midwinter hit the post with the conversion attempt 0-5.

The Moorlanders continued to attack and a clever kick from Rob McDermott sent Joe Byrne clear. As the full back fly hacked the ball on, the bounce of the ball fell unkindly and ran dead over the line. On the 20-minute mark, Leek were awarded consecutive penalties and elected to kick for touch on both occasions working their way up to the Longton 5metre line. From the line out the visitors’ pack formed a driving maul and drove over the line with Lee Williams grabbing the try. The conversion was missed 0-10.

From the restart the ball was worked out to Jack Newton Taylor who set off down the wing. He was tackled by the Longton winger who was shown a yellow card for a no arms tackle.

Leek were firmly on the front foot now and on 30 minutes Joe Byrne kicked a 50-22 which gave the visitors an attacking line out. With the ball secured, fly half Midwinter ran at the Longton back line and with a neat show and go, burst through the gap and outpaced the full back to score under the posts, he kicked the conversion and Leek led 0-17.

The home team now began to force a way back into the game and their giant pack, using power to force their way up the pitch, went through 10 continual phases of possession which led to a score under the posts. The conversion was kicked, and Leek’s lead reduced to 7-17. In the dying minutes of the half, Longton again pressed up to the Leek try line, but the Moorlanders defence held firm as the half ended.

This North Staffs derby had come to life. Half time 7-17.

As the teams returned to the pitch for the second half, conditions had taken a turn for the worse, with a much stronger wind now blowing directly against the Moorlanders. From the outset, Longton piled on the pressure and dominated territory and possession, but the whole visiting defence put in a herculean effort to hold out and eventually turn the ball over. Try as they might against the strong wind, Leek failed to get into the Longton half. For over 20 minutes the home side attacked, and the blue defensive wall held firm as Eddie Cheadle rallied his troops.

On 65 minutes, the visitors mounted their first attack of the half with James Floyd breaking clear. His pass found Joe Byrne, but as the Leek full back stepped clear of the last defender, he slipped on the bog like surface. The visitors were now clawing their way back into the game and gained more territory. On 70 minutes they pressed up to the Longton 5 metre line and the ball was worked to Midwinter who crashed over to score Leek's 4th try and earn the bonus point. The conversion was missed 7-22.

Longton now pressed forward and once again the Leek defence held firm. The referee produced a yellow card, judging Eddie Cheadle had not rolled away following a tackle and the Leek captain was sent to the sin bin. The visitors held out for the remainder of the game and the defensive effort was just as impressive as the points scored. Final score 7-22.

The win moves Leek onto 72 points at the summit of the league. Second place Walsall's loss at Stafford increases the Moorlanders advantage to 7 points with both sides having played 16 matches and 6 games to go.

Due to the poor weather conditions these two games were the only ones played with the other four games being postponed.

Leek 1st XV now have a free weekend. The 2nd XV are at home this Saturday 26th February with the England v Wales 6 nations game being screened live at 4.45pm.

Please get down to the club, support the 2s and then savour an early evening 6 Nations game in the clubhouse.

The 1st XV has their next fixture at home against 3rd place Moseley Oak on 5th March. Note the kick-off will then be at 3pm.

The club will be hosting Sausage and Cider festival and the clubs U7s team will be mascots for the day, please come along for what promises to be a great day.