Leek Colts V Burton

On Saturday Leek u17 Colts Welcomed Burton Rufc. Colts to Altrad park in the semi Final of the Staffordshire plate competition.

Burton arrived full of confidence with a large number of players in their squad, being able to choose from 29 on a regular basis. On the other hand Leek unfortunately are short on numbers due to long term injuries and often have to call on the U16’s to step up and play a year above, as was the case this week.
On a beautiful crisp morning with the sun shining, both teams faced off .
With Burton having the much heavier pack of forwards and Leek fielding some U16’s in their pack, it was decided for player safety, the scrum would have to be uncontested.
Against expectations Leek started the stronger of the two sides, with them spreading the ball between their backs at every opportunity and within 15 minutes of the start, Burton had a player red carded for a dangerous high tackle trying to curtail a promising passage of play by Leeks backs. This gave Leek a boost of confidence, which lead to them taking a surprising lead, inside centre, Ford-Rowley taking a crash ball over the line, left of the posts, allowing Broome an easy conversion.

Leek 7- 0 Burton.

Burton however are a capable side with some talented young players and were not easily fazed by the unexpected backward step.
Within 10 minutes they had used their heavier pack to bully the ball over for a score levelling Try & conversion.

Leek 7 - 7 Burton

With Burtons confidence now restored they again used their heavier pack to take another lead within another 10 minutes.

HT. Leek 7-14 Burton.

The second half again started briskly and within 5 minutes Burton fell foul of Leeks faster backs and another player was shown a yellow card for another high tackle.
With Burton now down to 13 players, Leek composed themselves and played their expansive style of Rugby which saw some lovely ball through hands, cutting out Burtons defensive attempts enabling fullback Bartram to run the ball over the try line, the conversion was missed but leek were back in the game.

LEEK 12 - 14 Burton.

Leek were now in the ascendancy and again with lovely ball through the hands enabled No 8 and eventual MoM Till to bully himself over the line and enable Broome another easy conversion.

LEEK 19-14 BURTON.

Burton, to their credit never gave up the fight and only determined defensive work by ALL of Leek players, kept Burton at bay.
The final play of the game ironically involved some of the u16’s out on the wing, a breakdown in Burtons attack enabled 3 of the younger colts to combine, allowing the very capable Powell to drive over in the far corner for a game sealing try. The conversion was short but with the ref blowing for full time LEEK colts had secured a remarkable and somewhat unexpected victory over very strong and fancied Burton .
Leek Colts coaches cannot over estimate the contribution the younger players ( u16’s) played in this significant victory , which sees Leek progress to the final.

Date and Venue to be advised.