Leek get off to flying start with fine win on the road
Midands 2 West (N) Veseyans ....................... 18 Leek ............................... 45
LEEK Rugby Club’s first team returned to league action on Saturday and got off to a perfect start with a resounding victory at Veseyans.
They had to come from behind to register 33 unanswered points and secure what was one of only two bonus point wins on the opening day in their division.
Returning to Leek this season are brothers Jack and Joe Newton Taylor, who both started as Leek youngsters and made their way into the first team while still in their teens and then sought to improve their careers in higher divisions before returning to Leek this season.
Jack started at full-back with Kini Buli and Dan Sharratt on the wings. Ollie Drew and Sam Hunt were starting at halfback with Tom Scragg and Nick Palmer in the centres.
Joe Newton Taylor, Ed and Bobby Cheadle were in the front row with skipper Luke Hardern and Ben Barlow making up a familiar lock partnership. Joel Booth, George Hunt and Andy Thompson made up an experienced back row.
Adam Smith, Joe Cooper and Jacob Hartley were on the bench.
The game started just after a big downpour and it took only a minute for Leek to register their first yellow card. Sam Hunt had chipped through the advancing Veseyans’ defence and at the ruck, Leek left the ball behind and ran blind. Catching the defence asleep, Leek were penalised at the ruck and were prevented from taking a quick penalty by Ollie Drew who was duly sent to the bin. The Vs kicker converted the penalty and Vs led early 3-0.
On four minutes, Vs reached Leek’s line, but good defence led to a penalty and the clearance to the 22 led to a first backs move from right to left. The ball sped along the line and Jack Newton Taylor received the ball in some space that allowed him to round one defender, hand off another and score under the posts on six minutes. Sam Hunt converted to give Leek a 3-7 lead.
From the kick-off, Leek dropped the ball and a player in front picked up to hand Vs another penalty which was converted to bring the score to 6-7.
Skipper Luke Hardern and the Vs hooker were sinbinned for their second coming together as the referee sought to put some order into the game as the players adjusted to the first game of a new season.
Leek’s rustiness continued as they won their first scrum on 14 minutes just inside Vs half. The ball was kicked out by Leek and Vs scrumhalf quickly took advantage down the blindside. Good inter passing and support from the flanker saw him go over in the left corner. The conversion missed but at 11-7, it was already proving to be a frustrating afternoon for Leek followers.
An offside gave Sam Hunt the opportunity to kick for a lineout on Vs 22 on the left. A good catch and drive to the Vs line then allowed Dan Sharratt to peel off and score Leek’s second try in the left corner. Hunt’s conversion was just wide but Leek regained the lead at 11-12.
Six minutes later and the lead changed hands again. Leek were running the ball in their own 22 when an unfortunate pass led to an interception and a simple try under the posts. The conversion was good and at 18-12 after 28 minutes, the game was still full of mistakes as the sides took advantage of each other.
Dan Sharratt was injured and Joe Cooper came onto the left wing. Leek then won a series of penalties in the Vs 22 as the half closed out and the final play was a five metre scrum but the referee awarded Vs a penalty as the scrum collapsed and the half ended with Vs holding an 18-12 lead.
From the kick-off, Vs dropped the ball and were then offside. Hunt converted the penalty. 18-15. Four minutes later and another penalty for offside saw Hunt convert again to even the scores at 18 all. wwith Leek enjoying the possession and cutting errors out, it took until the 51st minute for Sam Hunt’s third successive penalty after an offside decision in the Vs 22. It led also to a yellow card for persistent infringement. 18-21.
Another yellow card came on 65 minutes after Nick Palmer made a good break left. At the ruck, Vs were offside and as the ball came right, the Vs wing interfered and was yellow carded. Leek opted to scrum on the five metres.
The scrum went down with Vs under pressure and from the next scrum, as Leek pushed their way to the line, Vs infringed again and the referee awarded a penalty try for 18-28.
On 73 minutes with Vs attacking down the right, Joe Cooper intercepted on his own 10 metre line and sprinted for the left corner. Taking the tackle just at the line, the wing then dotted the ball down over the tackler for Leek’s bonus point try. The conversion failed but at 1833, Leek were more than two scores ahead.
Three minutes later and Drew finished off a fine Leek passing movement between forwards and backs scoring under the posts. Hunt converted. 18-40.
From the kick-off, Leek worked the ball right and with a Tom Scragg break, it left Kini Buli a chance to sprint down the wing and score in the right corner. The conversion missed. 18-48. Leek had scored four tries in 10 minutes to end the game on a high.
On Saturday, Leek entertain Walsall at Esterchem Park with a 3pm kick off.
Walsall also started the season well with a 33-10 win at home to Crewe & Nantwich, so a highly competitive match is expected between these Staffordshire rivals.