LEEK Rugby Club are on their way to Twickenham for a national final after enjoying the greatest day in their 91-year history.
A thrilling 27-15 home win over Aspatria – in front of around 600 fans – now leaves Leek heading to rugby headquarters to face Trowbridge in the final of the RFU Intermediate Cup on May 4.
“This has to be the highest point in the club’s long history,” says Leek president Gareth Jones, a former player and coach with a 30-year association at the club.
“It’s just fantastic for everybody. Every rugby player wants to go to Twickenham and play there – and now we are.
“I’ve been there a few times to watch games, but to see our lads going out to play there will be fantastic.
“A few of them will have played in county matches, but never on a stage like that. We are all excited.”
Leek will be following in the footsteps of Crewe and Nantwich in 1997 and Stoke in 2011 in reaching a national final at the home of rugby.
But their trip to west London was looking decidedly dodgy after a poor start to their national semi against Aspatria.
The Cumbrians started the stronger with a penalty and two tries to test the resolve of a Leek side indebted to a couple of Gary McDermott penalties to keep them in the hunt.
Trailing 15-6 at one stage, Leek were indebted to a profitable spell just before half-time which helped turn the tie on its head.
McDermott had kicked a third penalty by the time a series of rucks and mauls, together with several unsuccessful pushes for the try line, finally culminated in Luke Hardern going over and the touch judge ruling that the ball was grounded.
Aspatria were hit by a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident, and later in the second half by a red card after a high tackle by their winger, but that takes nothing away from the unstinting efforts of Leek’s entire 15 as the bright lights of Twickenham loomed into view.
And victory was sealed when they prodded and probed the Aspatria line during a sustained spell of pressure which ended with Shane Dicker crashing through for the killer try with around 10 minutes remaining.
“It was definitely a deserved victory,” said Jones. “I must admit that after 20 minutes I was a bit perturbed and I think we were a bit shell-shocked.
“But we got those points before half-time, which was a fantastic turnaround, and then we managed the ball and controlled the game in the second half.
“It was a great occasion for everybody. It was a fantastic crowd, with many townsfolk who wouldn’t normally be there coming down to support us.
“Reaching Twickenham is the result of a lot of hard work over the last 20 or 30 years by a lot of people who’ve done a remarkable job.
“The majority of the players were playing together as colts a few years ago and that’s been one of the best things about this.
“It will be thrilling to see them walking out to play at Twickenham.
“I might be in the Royal Box for most of it, but I’ll also get down to the dressing rooms at some stage to see how they are.”
Leek, already champions in Midlands Two West (North) after a record-breaking league campaign, are likely to rest plenty of their frontline players in their final league fixture on Saturday before be big one a week later.
And whatever the outcome at Twickenham, they have already guaranteed that 2013/14 will be remembered as their most memorable and successful season ever.
Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2606675/Monster-rucks-England-rugby-stars-unleash-inner-beasts-hilarious-videos.html
Rugby Union: Leek book their Twickenham spot with victory over Aspatria
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