With ten minutes played Leek took the lead when their No 14 was tackled but not held and was able to find support inside for the opening try of the match.Just five minutes later KC’s wheeled a Leek scrum on their 5 metre line and No 8 Layton Wilkinson picked up and fed scrumhalf Mark James who crossed unopposed to level the scores.Midway through the half the visitors fullback kicked a simple penalty to retake the lead but on the half hour their No 13 was yellow carded and KC’s took immediate advantage when a bullocking run by left wing Arthur Chiverton blasted through Leek’s defence for a try which nudged the hosts ahead 10-8.KC’s forwards clearly had the measure of their opposite numbers and the home side held on to their narrow two point advantage fairly comfortably until the break but it had been a tight first forty minutes and with Leek’s backs looking threatening despite limited possession the outcome was very much in the balance.
KC’s started the second half with an outstanding try.Second row Rob Phillips gathered Leek’s kick off and Kidder then retained possession for the best part of two minutes with the ball going through countless hands and phases before Chiverton used his strength to cross the whitewash.Almost from the restart a missed tackle allowed Leek in for a converted try under the posts to level at 15-15 but KC’s then had an eighteen minute purple patch which effectively won the match,scoring four tries.Firstly,Wilkinson set up a ruck to provide good ball for Andy McLellan to touch down and then Chiverton again punched a hole in the visitors defence to set up a ruck on their try line from which Phillips plunged over.An explosive run by Tom Maher sparked off several more great passages of play culminating in a try for centre Jake Evetts after working a scissors move with McLellan and with KC’s looking to keep the ball alive at every opportunity Phillips rounded off some more terrific handling with his second try to establish a 35-15 advantage.
Leek were,however,still looking dangerous on the break and to their credit refused to lie down.They ran in two late tries through their right wing and hooker but KC’s were nevertheless worthy winners and now look forward to a challenging return to league action when they travel to top of the table Old Laurentians.