Leek go over for six tries in win away at Spartans

Midlands West 2 (North) Spartans 24 Leek 1st XV 39

........................ ................... LEEK travelled to Spartans RUFC on Saturday hoping to put the cup disappointment behind them from the previous weekend.

This they did commendably with a six-try haul to leapfrog Spartans in the league and move up to fifth spot.

Spartans elected to play with the slope and for the first 10 minutes they camped in Leek’s 22, but with some excellent defence from Leek, when they were able to move the ball into Spartans half they were able take the first points of the game with a penalty from Sam Hunt. 0-3.

On 16 minutes, Spartans’ excellent lineout work with a driving maul, proved unstoppable allowing them to score the first try and with a successful conversion to move in front by 7-3.

From the kick-off, a great catch from full-back Jack Newton Taylor allowed the ball to move to George Hunt who went on an excellent, marauding run, only to be high tackled.

However the referee allowed advantage and Leek’s forwards controlled the ball in several phases and Bobby Cheadle went over to score under the posts and, with a conversion from Sam Hunt, went into the lead at 7-10.

Due to the high tackle, Spartans were reduced to 14 men for the next 10 minutes and within a short period Leek extended their lead with a well-worked try from a lineout on the half-way line. The ball was moved along the back line for the powerful winger Adam Varley to sprint in and score in the right corner. The conversion was missed, but Leek led 7-15.

For the next five minutes Spartans were on the attack and with the pressure mounting they scored a try in the left corner. The difficult conversion was missed to move the score to 12-15.

From the kick-off, Leek retained possession, but the referee saw a serious infringement and retaliation from Jake Bainbridge, and as a result both players were red carded. The last few minutes of the half also saw a knee injury to influential centre, James Floyd, which caused him to be replaced by Ad Smith who moved into the forwards and allowed George Hunt to move to the centre.

However, the changes did not affect the team’s cohesion

and just on half-time, again from a Leek lineout, the ball was moved through the hands for Jack Newton Taylor to make one of his signature mazy runs to score a try and although the conversion missed, Leek took a 12-20 lead into half-time.

Shortly after the kick-off

Adam Varley and a Spartans player were involved in a tackle incident which caused both to suffer some degree of concussion and both players had to be replaced.

This allowed DJ Allen to move into the forwards and Ad Smith to move into the

backs, which was again going to test the adaptability of the squad.

Leek were able to regroup from the changes and through some excellent patient play by the forwards and prompted by the influence of Dan Needham, prop Joe Newton Taylor was able to score under the posts and with a successful Sam Hunt conversion Leek had extended their lead to 1227 and importantly won the try bonus point on 50 minutes.

However Spartans then rallied and came back strongly for the next 20 minutes as Leek were unable to secure some of their own lineouts nor manage parts of the game and as the pressure mounted Leek conceded two tries as the score moved to 24-27 with 10 minutes left .

Spartans had taken control of the game and were now looking to take the victory but the Leek squad, sensing they had to rally, regrouped and through some patient, accurate work from all the players started creating space.

Sam Hunt side-stepped a couple of players from 10 metres to score a try to extend the lead to 24-32, giving leek an eight-point lead as the clock ticked down to full-time whistle.

Again Spartans came back and applied some forward pressure in the Leek 22, but through some excellent defence Leek were able to get the ball into the hands of Jack Newton Taylor again, who from the half-way line, went on a superb run down the side line.

Would-be tacklers were left in his wake as he rounded the last one to score under the posts. Sam Hunt converted to finish the game with Leek winning 24-39 .

A great win for Leek at a difficult venue with Spartans giving everything. They also won a try bonus point.

However Leek’s toughness and ability was no more shown than by Adam Smith who started on the bench, came on at prop, then outside centre, then played on both flanks before finishing the game on the wing.

Leek have no game this weekend, but hope to have some of the injured players back for the visit of Stafford on Saturday December 1. Kickoff, 2.15pm

Prior to this match there will be the past captains’ lunch with the bar open from midday and food served from 12.30pm.