Leek’s conversion rate at fault in defeat to Wolves

Wolverhampton Leek

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31 23

LEEK paid a high price for failing to convert any of their four tries as they were beaten 31-23 at Wolverhampton in Midlands Two West (North).

Leek went toe-to-toe with Wolves on tries and penalties, but failed with their conversions while their hosts landed all four of theirs.

But they did well to make a fist of the contest at all after trailing 17-3 at one stage.

Jack Newton Taylor, Kini Buli and Will Graham started as the back three with Tom Scragg back in the centre with James Floyd. Sam Hunt and Dan Needham were at half back.

Joe Newton-taylor, Ed Cheadle and Bobby Cheadle made up the front row with Ben Barlow being partnered by Lewis Dunleavy at lock in the absence of injured skipper Luke Hardern.

Joel Booth, Billy Kid and Lee Williams made up the back row.

On the bench were Ollie Drew, Tom Fairhurst and returning from injury Jake Bainbridge.

On a glorious day for rugby, Leek started brightly and a Floyd break in the early minutes looked promising.

On seven minutes, Sam Hunt kicked Leek into the lead with a penalty for offside but four minutes later, Wolves equalised with their own penalty for over the top at the ruck.

Then Wolves took the lead on 16 minutes with a well worked try by the posts after Leek’s defence was breached.

The try was converted to hand Wolves a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

With Wolves pressing in the Leek 22 again after a kick ahead and lineout, Ed Cheadle was yellow-carded for a noarms tackle and eventually from the pressure, Wolves scored their second try under the posts on 24 minutes.

The conversion was good and Wolves led 17-3.

Leek needed to score next and this they did after winning a penalty on Wolves 10-metre line and then another 10 -metre gain for back chat saw Sam Hunt’s kick for the lineout reach deep into the Wolves 22.

A catch and drive from 12 metres out with Leek’s pack well organised saw Bobby Cheadle crash over to score in the left corner. The conversion missed but Leek had reduced the arrears.

Wolves came back strongly though and scored their thirs try with an overlap on the right. With the conversion safely over, the home side led 24-8 and Leek were staring a heavy defeat in the face.

As the half reached overtime though, a penalty and lineout in the corner produced an opportunity to score another maul drive try.

The Wolves lock was yellow carded for bringing the maul down and from the next lineout, it looked a good bet for Leek to score but strong defence by the Wolves pack led to an error and the half ended with Wolves holding a commanding 24-8 lead.

Leek coach Lee Pickles had some work to do at the half and it worked as Leek scored next with only two minutes on the clock of the 2nd half. A dangerous break into the Wolves 22 led to a maul set up and the unstoppable drive ended with a score for Ed Cheadle.

The conversion was missed again however but Leek had done what they needed to do which was to score next and at 24-13, Leek were looking to take the game.

But at the score, Joel Booth and Wolves prop were yellow carded for an incident on the goal line and it was Wolves who scored next on 49 minutes with a flowing move that saw the centre score his second try. A good conversion followed and at 31-13, with the bonus point secured by Wolves, it looked like Leek would endure a tough last 30 minutes.

However, credit where it is due, the Leek squad never gave up and came back with two tries. Firstly on 58 minutes, Leek’s man of the match Tom Scragg took a pass on the right wing in the Wolves 22 and dragged 3 defenders over the line with him as he touched down wide.

Jack Newton Taylor was yellow carded for a shove on a Wolves player as the game entered the crucial last quarter but as Wolves pressed on Leek’s 22, Leek pinched the ball at the ruck and trying their luck ran and passed the ball right to left.

Good passing allowed the ball to arrive with left wing, Kini Buli with space to run.

He outflanked the wing and drew the full back before delivering a superb pass for supporting other wing Will Graham and he sprinted in from the 22 for the try of the match.

Again, the conversion failed though and at 31-23, Leek were shy of the losing bonus point but had, at least secured the try bonus point on 66 minutes.

Wolves had a late penalty chance which missed and the game ended with Wolves celebrating a deserved win and Leek may not be happy with their one point.

Mention must go to Lewis Dunleavy and Billy Kid, both Colts, who acquitted themselves very well and who are both gaining valuable experience at this level.

Sam Hunt also marshalled the backs well and on another day the difficult conversions would have been successful.

In other games, Ludlow lost at Crewe and that has allowed Tamworth to move to the top of the table with their fifth win in a row against Telford and remain as the only unbeaten side in the league.

Leek moved down to seventh on 16 points but only seven points behind Tamworth on 23 points.

The league looks wide open at this stage.

This weekend, Leek make the longest journey of the season to Ludlow, where they can expect an equally tough a match as experienced at Wolverhampton, 3pm.