LEEK 1st XV vs STAFFORD 1st XV. 1ST APRIL 2017. LEAGUE MATCH.

Stafford travelled to Leek for the penultimate away game of the season. The North Staffordshire Team hosted holding top position in the league and looking like one of the favourites for promotion this season.

Leek 45 – 12 Stafford

Stafford travelled to Leek for the penultimate away game of the season. The North Staffordshire Team hosted holding top position in the league and looking like one of the favourites for promotion this season.

The home side opened the game with a very early converted try to set out their stall out for the afternoon. The Stafford XV scrapped their way back into the encounter and could have put points of their own on the board through a penalty which flew just wide of the posts. With 15 minutes gone, a very fast yellow card reduced the visitors to fourteen, Leek took full advantage with two further tries as they stretched a hard-defending Stafford. The visitors wouldn’t lie down and played some periods of competitive rugby, but Leek had the last say in the half as they crossed the line for their fourth try of the afternoon and the try bonus point. Stafford went into half time trailing 26 – 0, but having had some good periods of play against a strong Leek performance.

Stafford came snarling into the second half and a sustained opening assault saw them laying siege to the opposition try line. The Leek defence was composed, absorbing the pressure and eventually snuffing out the momentum. Stafford continued to press and started to cause problems for the Leek XV. The visitors got their reward when Vinny Hogan intercepted a pass setting off on a flying run down the wing, with the defenders closing the ball was hacked forward and the following Stafford XV harried the opposition for Sevanaia Laqeretabua to cross the line for the first try of the half. An injury to Rich Martin disrupted the continuity of the attack and with a second yellow card of the afternoon the visitors were back down to fourteen on the pitch. Leek exploited the advantage to take another try and with a third yellow reducing Stafford to thirteen, Leek took another try to add to their total. With fourteen back on the pitch Stafford continued to make a fight of it, a kick and catch by Louise Dewsbury ripped through the defence and slick hands released Will Hamplett for Stafford’s second of the afternoon, Louise Dewsbury adding the conversion. With a full complement, back on the pitch Stafford pressed for a third but a Leek interception gave the try to the home side as the game meandered to a close.