LEEK MAINTAIN IMPRESSIVE FORM
LEEK recorded their third successive Midlands Two West North victory with a 41-29 home win against Camp Hill.
The match was scheduled for the previous week, but a coronavirus issue put the fixture back seven days.
But the delay didn’t affect the Moorlanders, who cemented second place in the table – and are only being kept off top spot because of Walsall’s superior points difference.
Leek were quick off the mark against Camp Hill and broke the deadlock when James Floyd broke a tackle and fed Elliot Anderson who sprinted over and under the posts for the opening try.
Will Midwinter converted and Leek led 7-0.
The two sides then traded penalties, before Camp Hill opened their try account for the afternoon as some poor Leek defending allowed the visitors to draw level at 10 apiece.
But it was the hosts who went into the break with the advantage after notching another score.
A clearance kick from Camp Hill only found Rob Mcdermott on his own 10-metre line. His catch and break caught the defence napping and only a knock on prevented a certain score as Will Midwinter grasped for the ball.
From the scrum, Camp Hill cleared and then won Leek’s lineout near halfway, but as the ball sped along the backs, James Floyd’s anticipation gave him an interception pass and he flew in under the posts as the half-time whistle went following the simple Midwinter conversion.
Five minutes into the second half Leek increased their advantage with a penalty – and a third try wasn’t long in coming.
Mcdermott made a 50-metre break before passing to Anderson, who applied the finishing touch. Midwinter did the necessary with the boot to put Leek 27-10 to the good after 49 minutes.
Leek’s newcomer, Harvey Bullman was on at lock and immediately made an impression as Leek took a scrum against the head, leading to a penalty and lineout in Camp Hill’s 22.
Elliot Anderson looked like he had scored again but was hauled back for double movement as Leek started to dominate the game and it wasn’t long before the fourth try.
From the penalty for the double movement, Camp Hill cleared the ball but then was penalised at the line for a dummied throw.
Joel Booth and then Harvey Bullman combined as the big lock broke the tackle deep in the 22 and offloaded to Billy Kidd, who went over for a deserved try.
Midwinter converted and at 3410, Leek were in complete control of the game with a quarter to go.
Signal a Camp Hill revival then, and it duly came immediately after a clearance kick from the kick off only found the outside centre. He combined with the left wing who then set up ruck phases leading to an overlap and try.
The conversion was good and at 34-17, Camp Hill were looking at two more tries for a bonus point and three to win the game with plenty of time to go.
So, when on 76 minutes, their third try came from a scrum on halfway from which the number eight picked up and sprinted in avoiding all pursuers, the deficit was only 10 points.
Leek needed to steady the ship and three minutes later, the game was effectively put beyond the visitors when Jack Newton Taylor scored Leek’s fifth try with a dogged run, shrugging off tackles and showing great speed. Will Midwinter converted for 41-24.
Camp Hill kept plugging away and earned a try bonus point late on, but Leek had enough breathing space to run out winners.