Sat 15 Oct 2022
Saturday 15th October 2022
Regional 2 North Midlands
Newark RFC 26
The resumption of the league campaign saw Leek make the longest journey of the season into Nottinghamshire to face Newark. This would be the first match between the two clubs. Head Coach Joel Booth selected himself at lock and also recalled Lee Williams & Billy Kidd in the forwards with Liam McDermott, Rob McDermott & Joe Byrne returning to the backline.
Leek kicked off the match with the strong wind in their favour on a bright sunny afternoon. Newark ran the ball back and within a minute Lee Williams pounced to win the visitors a turnover as Newark conceded a penalty for holding on. Leek opted to kick for goal at a distance over 40mtrs, Fly half Midwinter stepped up and slotted the ball between the posts giving Leek a 0-3 lead. Newark responded on 12 minutes when their fly half jinked his way through the visitors defence to score a try at the side of the posts but the conversion was missed 5-3.
The home side looked to ship the ball wide early and use their dangerous back three players, and continued to exert a territorial advantage, on 28 minutes Newark's outside centre broke down the left and an offload in the tackle allowed the full back to score in the corner, the conversion was added 12-3. The Staffordshire side started to win more possession and exerted pressure on the Newark try line, after 33 minutes numerous pick and go drives ended with Joe Newton-Taylor blasting over to score, Midwinter added the conversion 12-10. Half time.
In the second period Leek began well, penning the home side in their own half. But it was Newark who scored 2 converted tries in three minutes through their pacey winger to leave the visitors with a huge task to turn the game around. With 30 minutes of the match remaining the Moorlander's began to have more possession and put more phases together. On 55 minutes winning clean ball from a lineout deep in Newark's half the Leek pack mauled the ball towards the try line but as the maul was stopped the forwards worked the ball in field testing the Home sides defence until Sam Lloyd forced his way over to score the visitor's second try which Midwinter converted 26-17. Both sides pressed on but as the game entered the last few minutes it was Leek pushing for a score, the Home side began to concede penalties close to their try line and eventually the Newark No7 was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin. The resolute Newark defence thwarted all Leek attempts to force a try and a penalty awarded on the last play gave Leek the opportunity to salvage a losing bonus point Midwinter threaded the 25 metre kick between the posts giving a final score 26-20.
On reflection the final score was a fair result and Leek will need a higher level of performance to win away from home.
The defeat sees Leek fall to 5th place in the League on 20 points only 4 points behind second place Melbourne who travel to EsterChem Park this Saturday 22nd October. Please come along and support the team as they aim to bounce back, the bar will be open from 1.30pm with KO 3pm. Breeze House are the match sponsors.
Leek Team sheet:
Lee Williams, Eddie Cheadle (Capt), Joe Newton-Taylor, Joel Hine, Joel Booth, Billy Kidd, George Hunt, Reece Milner, Liam McDermott, Will Midwinter, Kin Critchlow, Rob McDermott, Josh Nadin, Sam Brereton, Joe Byrne. Subs Bobby Cheadle, Sam Lloyd, Tom Scragg.
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