LEEK REGAIN TOP SPOT WITH A RESOUNDING WIN AT OLD SALTLIEANS

.... meant that Leek sitting in second place of the league travelled down to Shard End, Birmingham to face Old Saltleians, who sat at the foot of the table having endured a tough start to the campaign.

Leek had a number of personnel changes Bobby Cheadle returned to the front row at prop joining Lee Williams with Eddie Cheadle (capt) at Hooker. The second row was once again Harvey Bullman and Ben Barlow with the back row comprising Flankers Joel Booth (Head Coach) & George Hunt returning from injury making his first start of the season, Joel Hine remained at No 8.
The half back pairing was once more Liam McDermott, Scrum half with Will Midwinter at Fly half. Elliot Anderson was recalled at outside centre, pairing with Rob McDermott. The back three saw Tom Scragg & Sam Brereton on the wings with Joe Byrne moving to fullback. On the bench were Joe Newton Taylor, both Sam Lloyd & Ollie Drew returned after injury lay off.

Winning the toss Leek elected to play up the slope against a strong wind on a cold bright winters afternoon. The visitors soon got into their stride and strong running from Lee Williams moved Leek deep into Old Salts (OS) territory. Try as they might OS kicked to clear but first Joe Byrne then Eddie Cheadle ran the ball back and after 12 phases of play Rob McDermott pierced the OS line to score the opening try Will Midwinter missed the conversion score 0-5.

The Moorlanders continued to dominate proceedings with both Harvey Bullman & Ben Barlow being held up over the OS try line from the latter goal line drop out Will Midwinter fielded the ball and ran through the OS defence only to be tacked 10mtrs short of the line a scrum was awarded against the home side for a knock on. Joel Hine picked up the ball at No 8 and quick hands across the backline saw Tom Scragg score in the right hand corner 0-10 the conversion was missed (28mins).
The Leek forwards continued to dominate the game and the backline fed the ball to Sam Brereton who stepped his man to score out wide 0-15 the conversion was missed (36mins). From the kick off, against the run of play, Old Salts sprung into life breaking through the visitors defence to score under the posts and the kick was good giving a 7-15 half time score line.

The Staffordshire side now had the advantage of both the strong cold wind and the slope and on 45 minutes they were awarded a penalty as OS played the ball while on the floor. A kick to the OS 22 resulted in a Leek lineout which Joel Booth gathered and a maul was formed which the Moorlanders pack drove powerfully over the try line with Booth claiming a deserved try. 7-20 the resulting conversion crashed against the post but was missed.
The visitors pack continued to drive on and after 49 minutes from a scrum deep in the OS half Rob McDermott sold his opposite number a dummy pass and sprinted for the line to score his 2nd try 7-25 the conversion was missed. Leeks 6th try was Sam Brereton's 2nd fed across the backline with a long miss pass sending the winger clear on 55 minutes, Will Midwinter added the conversion 7-32. Head coach Booth now used 2 of his substitutes with Ollie Drew coming on at Scrum half with Liam McDermott switching to centre replacing Anderson. Harvey Bullman came off replaced by Sam Lloyd on 57 minutes.

Old Salts now raised there game and for over 10 minutes penned Leek back deep in the visitors half, a superb defensive effort led by captain Eddie Cheadle ensured that the North Staffordshire side's try line was not breached. After 70 minutes on his own 5 metre line George Hunt ripped the ball from an opponents grasp and tipped the ball on to Will Midwinter who set off and fed the on rushing Joe Byrne who beat the nearest OS player before passing back to Midwinter who then sprinted from his own 22 metre line to score under the posts and then added the conversion 7-39. The visitors penultimate try resulted from a well earned scrum penalty won by the pack. Rob McDermott and Midwinter combined to loop and fed Joe Byrne who used footwork to beat the first man then pace to sprint around the outside of the second. Midwinter added the conversion 7-46.

Byrne was again involved in the final Leek try as he was fed the ball from the OS re-start he sprinted from inside his own half fixing the OS winger as he found Brereton with a pass the winger sprinted for the line stepping inside the last defender, claiming his hat trick of tries Midwinter added the conversion with the last kick of the game closing the score at 7-53.
A good result for the Leek team built on a strong performance from the pack with scores finished by the backs. The squad knows tougher tests lie ahead. With Moseley Oak beating Walsall 22-15 Leek regain top spot on 36 points, with a game in hand on both, Walsall in second on 35 points and Moseley Oak moving up to 3rd on 31 points.

Leek 1st XV host Stourbridge Lions at Esterchem Park, Saturday 11th December 2.15pm KO.
The matchday sponsors are Dear Barber
Saturday the bar opens at 1pm
Post match the club is hosting a Christmas Carols sing along with Paul Fox.

The 2nd XV host Sandbach 3rd XV 2.15pm KO
The 3rd XV are away at Wolverhampton 3rd XV KO 2.15pm
Leek/Uttoxeter Colts are away at Shrewsbury 1.30pm KO.
Author John McDermott