Silhillians 42-0 Leek

Silhillians v Leek Match Report
By Michael Whitehouse | Tuesday 9th October 2012
Leek’s first visit to Silhillians in a number of years ended in a crushing score line against with Leek failing to trouble the scoreboard for the first time in at least 4 years of league rugby.

The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for Drew Wheddon who died recently and who was a member of Silhillians 1st XV squad for many years. He was 30 years of age.

On a great day for rugby, Leek players were looking forward to getting into the rhythm of last week’s performance against Bridgnorth.
Both sides showed enterprise early on and defences were on top with neither side able to break down the other and most play was around Leek’s 10 metre line until a poor clearance kick on 17 minutes only found the Old Boys left wing. He gathered and passed outside for the full back to score a simple try. The conversion was good and Silhillians held the early advantage.

Again play resumed in the midfield with both sides enjoying possession but neither able to make a break until the 32nd minute when a break by Silhillians was held up over the Leek line. Leek repelled the subsequent breaks until they were penalised at the 3rd scrum for a front row offence. Silhillians opted for the penalty kick and extended the lead to 10-0.

4 minutes into added time, a catch and drive from a lineout saw the Silhillians forwards score their 2nd try. The conversion was missed and the half time whistle blew with Leek 15-0 down, but very much still in the game.
Leek’s first scoring chance on 43 minutes for offside saw a Sam Hunt penalty miss and then wing Tom Kavacece broke 2 tackles but then knocked on with the line begging.

2 minutes later and from a scrum on half way, the Silhillians backs set up 2 quick rucks, sucked the Leek defence in and scored easily in the left corner. The conversion missed but at 20-0 Leek had a mountain to climb and it was about to get worse.
It took to the 55th minute for the next score as Silhillians finally wore the spirited leek defence down and with a simple 2 on 1 down the right hand side, the wing scored a neat try. The conversion was good and Silhillians were up to 27-0.

3 tries in the next 13 minutes when Leek’s players tired and Silhillians were still bursting with energy wrapped the game up.
Strangely until the last 20 minutes, Leek probably had close on 50% of possession, but the superb defence of Silhillians prevented Leek from even a sniff of the line.

Most players were a couple of yards off last week’s performance, but there was no excuse as Leek were beaten by a better side on the day.
With a week’s rest ahead of them, coaches Ian Gittens and Chris Mudd have a lot of work to do on the training pitch and it’s as much in the mind as in the bodies of the Leek players about the commitment they have to make and the responsibility they have to take.

Leek’s next league game is against Lordswood Dixonians as home on Saturday, October 20th, K/O 3pm