On form Amber Valley RUFC thrash Leesbrook

The home side took the lead in the opening minutes with a converted try scored from a fine break from the Leesbrook centre, which was not helped by some shoddy defending from Stewart Kirkup.

Kirkup soon made amends however to equalise as Duran Wardale first charged down an attempted clearance from Leesbrook 10, Sean Room.

He collected the bouncing ball and kept it alive with a clever offload. Sean Dowdall then drew the defence and gave Kirkup a fairly simple run for the line.

Leesbrook had further opportunities in the opening quarter as Valley got their defensive cohesion back.

Matt Rooke made a try saving tackle and John Redhead showing his steel in defence with some good unseen work at the breakdown.

Valley’s second try came from another Wardale break, this time off-loading to the supporting Ben Parker who had a lot of work to do to eventually score to the right of the posts. Dowdall again converted to put Valley 14-7 up and in a lead they never looked like losing.

Valley’s final score of the first half came when scrum half Lee Chapman strolled to the line

The second continued much as the first had, with Leesbrook pressuring on occasions but unable to find the killer pass to put the opportunity away and Valley having several releases, either from the impressive pack taking the ball up, the boot of Dowdall or the good hands shown by the backs.

Arron Robinson got Valley’s next with a trademark powerful run down the left for his first try since the start of the season.

Valley’s pack’s fitness shone through as the Leesbrook pack began to tire and this was demonstrated when Lee Chapman controlled a driving maul from a line-out to score.

Leesbrook took umbrage at this and had a man sent off for punching.

Credit must go to the remaining 14 players who never gave up and continued to throw everything they had at the visitors.

Valley however piled on the points with tries from distance, two for Ashley Allen on for Stuart Artliff and one for Karl Bunting.

All three were good team tries, one straight from kick off, a great tap back from John Redhead was gathered by Parker who broke through and off-loaded to Bunting for another converted try.

Overall Valley should be pleased with both the result and performance.

Valley played in the right areas and have kept the pressure up against League Leaders Chesterfield, who had a home walk over against Bingham to stay one point clear.