Leek hold their nerve to make progress to Staffordshire final
LEEK booked their place in the final of the Staffordshire Cup with a thrilling 27-26 home win against Lichfield.
This eagerly-anticipated matchup between two sides that have rarely played each other at firstteam level didn’t disappoint as the lead changed hands four times in the last 15 minutes with Leek just edging a highly entertaining and sporting game with the teams closely matched throughout.
Following a determined effort by both clubs to find an agreeable date for this fixture, Good Friday and a 1pm kick off, rewarded rugby supporters and players alike.
Leek made a couple of changes to the starting line-up as James Floyd was unavailable which resulted in Noah Reaney starting at full-back with Kin Critchlow and Sam Brereton on the wings.
Jack Newton Taylor and Will Midwinter partnered in the centres and Joe Byrne and Rob Mcdermott were at half back.
Joe Newton-taylor, Ed Cheadle and Ollie Powell were in the front row with Luke Hardern and Joel Hine at lock. Joe Gorman, Billy Kidd and Tom Hayes made up the back row.
On the bench were Dan Griffin, Brenig Hughes and Lee Williams.
After a deluge an hour before the game, Altrad Park’s first XV pitch was at its wettest all season as the game kicked off.
But the next 80 minutes were mainly bathed in sunshine and Leek’s supporters were given an early boost as Sam Brereton scored a try on three minutes after great work stretched the Lichfield defence to the right before a miss move back left led to an overlap and a sprint in for the reliable left wing. Will Midwinter converted and Leek led 7-0.
Ten minutes later and Lichfield had the chance to claw three points back after Leek were penalised for holding on, but the penalty attempt came back off the post.
Still two minutes later and Lichfield had drawn level after another penalty against Leek, this time for offside led to a five-metre lineout on Lichfield’s left.
A well worked drive, led to hooker Jack Fielding sprinting off the side to score a try. He had to leave the field then unfortunately as he turned his ankle in the act of scoring. The conversion was good and it was 7-7.
On 23 minutes, Lichfield deservedly took the lead after a lineout on halfway, moved the Leek defence to the right before the ball sped back left to create an overlap and a run in for the openside flanker. The conversion missed but Lichfield had taken the lead 12-7.
On 33 minutes, Leek hit back as the forwards drove on quickly into the Lichfield 22 before scrum-half Joe Byrne picked up and dummied his way to the line for a try. Midwinter converted and Leek retook the lead at 14-12.
The half ended with Lichfield receiving a yellow card, so Leek would start the second half with a numerical advantage.
Leek couldn’t take advantage of the superior numbers but on 54 minutes, Leek extended their lead when Jack Newton-taylor went on a mazy run avoiding tackles and staying upright just long enough before his out of backhand pass found centre partner, Will Midwinter, for a score under the posts.
The conversion was good, and Leek extended the lead to 21-12.
Lichfield was giving as good as they received and were clearly in the match, retaining possession and trying to find an edge and they reduced the deficit on 62 minutes with a good penalty following another holding on transgression by Leek.
Three minutes later and Lichfield scored their third try after further penalties against Leek and good continuity down the right.
The conversion missed but at 21-20 with 15 minutes to go, it was going to be close.
Leek’s forwards were held up over the line on 69 minutes and Lichfield won a penalty to clear. Then on 73 minutes Lichfield took the lead with a penalty as Leek infringed.
Three minutes later and Leek retook the lead with a penalty of their own as Lichfield held on. Midwinter converted for 24-23.
From the kick-off Leek knocked on and were then offside and a superb penalty conversion looked to have sewn the game up at 26-24.
However, as the game entered overtime, Leek’s urgency grew, and Joe Byrne darted through a gap at the ruck side and to the Lichfield 22.
His pass found no player, but the referee adjudged a Lichfield player called out for the pass and awarded Leek a penalty. Will Midwinter coolly converted, and Leek led 27-26.
There was time for a kick-off and one more play with Leek retaining possession and kicking the ball off the pitch to win an enthralling match.