Sat 18 Jan 2020
Malvern 37 v Leek 32
On a day that saw the sun shine, a massive gate, a near perfect day for rugby and two evenly matched teams pitted against each other in a Midlands Semi-Final the anticipation of the crowd was palpable.
The game started with Leek on top from the kick-off, squeezing Malvern across the park and forcing uncharacteristic mistakes. Malvern tried to force the game and on half-way a long pass was intercepted and Leek scored a converted try.
Malvern responded by Dan Batty kicking a penalty for hands in the ruck.
That was Batty's last involvement for 10 minutes as he was adjudged almost from the kick-off to have deliberately knocked on when Leek were in a try scoring position. His yellow card saw Leek go into overdrive with a catch and drive from the penalty kick and lineout, that saw them score in the corner.
Before Malvern could take stock Leek, took advantage of a poor kick. Their influential full-back and winger combining to score in the corner. In the first 25 minutes Malvern were staring down the barrel of not just a defeat but an embarrassing cricket score. The large travelling support were now in full voice.
Leek further emphasised their dominance by kicking a penalty when Malvern crept off-side.
Malvern needed to respond, they did just that, Batty's returned seemed to galvanise them. They created good pressure and when a penalty was signalled for Leek straying offside, a cross kick saw Lewis Hardiman side step the Leek winger and score under the posts. Batty converted.
Malvern seemed to come alive from that and Batty keen to make amends for his sin binning made a powerful break from his own 10 metre line, cleverly recognising the defenders closing in he put an inch perfect kick through for speedster Hardiman to race onto and dab down.
Half Time Malvern 15 v Leek 22
Malvern were quick off the mark in the 2nd half with a move that saw the backs score a quality try, quick hands saw Batty, Milton and Hale combine to create open space for Giggle to score. Batty converted and the scores were level.
Malvern were now in the ascendency, a powerful run by Joe Murcott was interrupted by what was initially a good tackle, sliding up onto the head, a penalty the result. Batty took the 3 points with a penalty.
Malvern now piled on the pressure, a penalty won and driven into the corner, Leek offended and a prop was sin-binned. Malvern took the five metre scrum and with the partisan local support screaming them on edged towards the line. Inches from the line Leek collapsed the scrum and the referee awarded a penalty try.
Leek responded with some real power, they kicked a penalty to the edge of the Malvern 22 and drove steadily to the Malvern line to score a good forwards try.
The game now was in the balance. Jack Cutis went on a typical Curtis run from half-way feeding Luke Milton who committed the last defender and put Hardiman through to complete his hat-trick.
Leek won a penalty from their kick-off, kicked to the corner and another powerful drive saw them over in the corner.
Now in the final minutes Leek pushed hard for the win. Just yards from the Malvern line, they were held up at a maul and the referee blew for full time.
Full Time Malvern 37 v Leek 32
The Malvern crowd and players erupted in to celebration. The emotion and closeness of the game were obvious. Many of the Malvern sages were keen to point out this was one of the best games seen at Stadio Spring Lane for many years.
Malvern Director of Rugby Rob Cook said "Firstly a massive thank-you to Leek, they came here and took the game to us, powerful going forward and disruptive in defence. I wish them well for the rest of the season. I was very proud of our players today, they were outplayed for the first 25 minutes and had to dig deep to win this game. The hard work that we are doing at training made me confident that we would compete to the end and we had to do just that. On behalf of all the players, I would like to thank the crowd. Many of the players commented on the atmosphere and noise being generated. Once again best wishes to the players, committee and supporters of Leek RUFC. We now look forward to next weeks home league game against Spartans and the Midlands final against Leighton Buzzard RFC who beat Newark today."
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