CAMP HILL v LEEK, REPORT

The Camp Hill pitch was declared unplayable due to a water logged pitch.
This was consistent with the rest of the fixtures in the league as they were all postponed.
It means Leek, Bridgnorth and Aston Old Edwardians have played 16 matches in the league and have 6 to play with the rest of the teams needing to play catch up and in the case of Wolverhampton, they have only played 12 games so far.
The weather is certainly going to play its part as the season reaches its climax and is further complicated by Leek’s cup exploits.

This coming Saturday, Leek attempt to play their postponed Midlands Intermediate Cup semi-final at Newbold on Avon.
The attached photo shows the reason why Leek’s management cried off playing last time, with the River Avon on the pitch.
Since then, Newbold has played at home and last Saturday played away.
Everyone is keeping fingers crossed that the river and weather will abate so the game can go ahead.

The incentive is massive because the RFU has already made the draw for the Midlands Intermediate Cup Final and Newbold or Leek has been drawn at home.
The final is to be played on March 15th against Bridgnorth, who beat Leighton Buzzard in their semi-final and who then lost narrowly at Leek in the league last weekend in a superb encounter.

Leek has booked at least one coach for this Saturday’s trip to Warwickshire and if you want to go on it, please call Mark Hardern or John McDermott to reserve a space. The cost is £10. The meet time is 10am at the clubhouse on Saturday morning.

The next league match for Leek couldn’t be tougher as they entertain Crewe and Nantwich at Esterchem Park on Saturday, March 1st. This is another huge contest in the context of the league with the Cheshire side lying immediately below Leek in the standings with a game in hand. The earlier game at Crewe was an epic contest with Leek just edging their rivals and the expectation is that the match at Leek will be just as competitive.

In that match, Dan Needham sustained a serious hamstring injury and hasn’t played for the 1st team since.
However, last Saturday, he made his comeback in the 2nd XV along with another long term injured 1st team member, Shane Dicker. The big inside centre has been off nearly all season with a knee injury. His comeback game went smoothly and he managed to score a try in the 2nds 12-7 loss to Rugeley. Nevertheless with both players coming through the game unscathed, the addition of both to the first team squad, at this stage of the season, may be crucial to the ambitions of the Moorlanders who are competing on 3 fronts.

Along with the national cup and league, Leek are still in the Staffordshire cup, following their quarter final win against Burton. Next up, in the semi-final, is Lichfield, run away leaders of Midlands West (1). Leek has the home draw and it looks like the game will have to be played in midweek because of both sides league commitments. Watch this space for the date because it will be the first competitive match to be played under Leek’s new floodlights, installed at the beginning of this season

Author John McDermott