Sat 1 Oct 2022
Saturday 1st October 2022
Regional 2 North Midlands
Leek RFC 22
A top of the table clash with 1st place Long Eaton travelling to EsterChem Park to face 2nd Place Leek. Both teams had won their first 4 fixtures, with their fast attacking game style Long Eaton had earned a try bonus point in all their games.
The Derbyshire side were victorious with a blistering first half performance that saw them amass an unassailable lead which try as they might Leek could not overcome.
In bright sunny conditions with a light breeze Leek fielded a front row of Lee Williams, Eddie Cheadle (Capt) & Joe Newton-Taylor. Ben Barlow returned to the second row joining Player Coach Joel Booth. Billy Kidd and Reece Milner were accompanied by Ollie Powell who was making his first start of the season in the back row. Dan Needham & Will Midwinter were the half back pairing. Rob McDermott and Josh Nadin started at centre. Sam Brereton, Jack Newton-Taylor and Joe Byrne were the back three. Jacob Armstrong-Bainbridge, Joel Hine & Jack Fryer were on the bench.
Long Eaton took the KO and after 5 minutes Leek took the lead when Midwinter kicked a penalty from 30mtrs which was awarded when a LE player was judged offside.
On 16 minutes LE showed the speed they could move the ball wide, when they used their backline with clinical effect allowing their inside center the cut through the Leek defence and score in the corner, the try was converted 3-7.
The Moorlanders responded on 24 minutes winning the ball off a LE lineout and then following four quick phases Midwinter threw a long pass out to Fullback Byrne who used excellent footwork to race between the defence and score Leek first try, Midwinter added the conversion 10-7.
In response Long Eaton took control of the game and scored 3 tries before half time, first to score was the outside center who found a dog leg in the Leek defence and score in the corner, the conversion was missed 10-12. The next try was a moment of skill from the LE flyhalf who threw a dummy pass and darted under the posts. The final act of the half earned the visitors the try bonus point as they scored their fourth try, they were awarded a penalty as a Leek player went off their feet and the kick to touch gave LE an attacking lineout 5 mtrs out. Winning their own throw the visitors formed a maul and drove over the Leek try line. HT score 10-26.
From the first half performance it was evident why Long Eaton were at the top of the league. They started the second half in the same vain of form but could not find a way through the dogged Leek defence, despite dominating territory. On 60 minutes the LE outside center was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock on. Joel Booth now led by example and spurred his side into action with a series of powerful carries which earned him the man of the match award. On 68 minutes From a lineout deep in the visitors half, Leek formed a maul and drove right up to the LE try line, the ball came out of the maul and a phase later Armstrong-Bainbridge smashed over to score the Home sides 2nd try the conversion was missed 15-26.
The momentum was now in the home sides favour and all the play was now inside the LE 22. With 77 minutes on the clock, the referee signalled advantage to Leek and Midwinter angled a cross field kick over the visitors backline for Byrne to sprint onto and score his second try of the game, Midwinter added the conversion 22-26.
With just 3 minutes remaining the blue boys sensed they could snatch victory but Long Eaton held their nerve and saw out the remainder of the game claiming 5 points and increasing their lead at the top of the division, Full time 22-26.
A disappointing result for Leek saw them claim a loosing bonus point with a spirited fight back, but credit must go to Long Eaton who were good value for their win. Leek fall to 3rd place (19 points) with Oadby Wyggestonians 2nd (21 points) Long Eaton are top (25 points). Next week Leek 1st XV travel to Walsall in the Staffordshire Cup, before traveling to Newark on 15th October.
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