Round five saw Saints brave the weather and travel down to Leek Rugby club situated in St Edwards Park former hospital site originally known as Chadderton County Mental Asylum.
Weather forecast was correct strong winds driving rain from the start, with the floodlights on throughout the game the pitch although heavy was perfectly playable. Saints are still suffering from injury problems hopefully a couple of first team players returning in the next couple of weeks.
The game kicked off with Saints playing into the wind, with the wet conditions a spilled ball put the Saints line under pressure, solid defence was keeping the big Leek forwards from making headway, however a penalty from being offside was slotted through the sticks to open the scoring for leek 3-0. With Leek again pressing from the restart the ball was a turned over on Saints 10m line and with a bit of space Dan woods made a 40m dash up the pitch before the ball went through the hands of Cotgrave and Holmes then out to Jones who went in at the corner, cheekily not touching the ball down though and running the ball along the touchline to dot the ball between the sticks to make Bailey Smiths conversion a formality in the wind.3-7.
With both teams locked in midfield the game became a battle between the forwards, Saints gaining momentum as the half progressed. With a lineout 10m out, the forwards were recycling the ball and when 5m out Kincart slipped the ball to Gregory who powered over to score, converted by Smith 3-14.
Three minutes later Gregory made a powerful run and just before he was tackled on the 10m line passed the ball to the supporting Holmes who operated through 2 tacklers to go over the line on the stroke of Half time, conversion missed but a healthy 3-19 lead.
With the wind now strengthening and the rain pounding down Saints started the second half well consistent counterattacks from the backs as clearing kicks where difficult in the strong wind, coupled with powerful carries from the whole pack who were sharing the workload well in the difficult conditions. With a ruck on the try line Joe Sanders dived for the line to go over between the sticks, converted by Smith 3-26 only to do the same thing 3 mins later again converted by Smith 3-33.
With the game now secure, Saints emptied the bench With Friday, Mutch and Grant on first followed shortly after by Bowden and Gus Crowe. With Leek making a few changes themselves Saints looked solid and defence and concentration levels where excellent in the poor weather, Leek were rewarded with a try when a kick through was intercepted and the Leek attacker hacked the ball down the pitch to collect it and score converted to at least put some points on the board for the afternoons efforts 10-33.
Saints and the final score came from an interception from George Cole who outpaced the defender to score under the Sticks again making the kick easier for Smith final score10-40 a good afternoon’s work considering the conditions.
Next week home v Dronfield, the first time the clubs have ever met I believe. Report by Derek Salisbury Snr