ST LEONARDS 1ST XV 12 ALDRIDGE 1ST XV 6
ST LEONARDS 1st XV are back on top in the Midlands 5 West (North) section after emerging victors over visiting Aldridge.
After seven weeks without a match, due to poor weather and unplayable pitches, the Saints were eager to take to the field.
From the start Saints were on top and in Aldridge's 22 within seconds. The pressure on the visitors proved to much and St Leonards were awarded a penalty, which was successfully converted by Will Redpath.
Another relentless assault towards the Aldridge line resulted in a further chance for Redpath who made the score 6-0.
However, Aldridge came back strong and powered towards the hosts try line, and Saints then found themselves watching the ball fly between the posts as Aldridge kicker, Ben Drinkwater converted a penalty to cut the deficit to three points.
The second half was much the same as Aldridge's Drinkwater levelled the scores with another penalty.
A stalemate caught both teams in the centre of the pitch, until Andy Keeling made a break to the line, off loaded to Adam Fewtrell only to be held up at the line.
Redpath added another six points as the home side were awarded two additional penalties in quick sucession.
Saints held the score at 12-6 until the last few seconds of the game when the visitors made a dash to the line only to have their hopes dashed by giving away another penalty which the Saints kicked into touch to finish up victors and back on top.
There was last-gasp disappointment for St Leonards 2nd XV as they conceded a penalty and went down 29-26 to local rivals Rugeley 2nd XV.
In what was a very tense game the two sides matched each other score for score for most of the game.
Saints full back John Appleby produced a fantastic run and superb off-load out of a tackle to set up winger Matty Jones for a try.
Scrum half, Macauly Blencowe was the next to plant the ball over the line for Saints, while Appleby then claimed a try of his own, his first for the Saints.
A fourth try was added by the Saints as centre Craig Smith burst through to find the line. Dom Magenty successfully kicked three of four conversions.
With the score at 26-26, Rugeley were awarded a penalty in the last play of the game, which they successfully kicked, pipping the Saints to the post by just three points.
Poor conditions greeted members of Blithfield Sailing Club on Sunday.
Sailors faced rain and winds and only a dozen sailors took to the water.
Results: 12.00, Dave Young (GP14) 47.56, Paul Keeling (Merlin-Rocket) 48.18, Chris Gould (Osprey) 49.23, John Reay (PhantomC) 51.54.
Andy Watterson (RS400) 53.09, Lou Geeson (Osprey) 55.04, Doug Rankin (PhantomC) 56.17, Peter Wainwright (Laser2000) 66.04.
Race 14.00, Chris Gould (Osprey) 46.27, Paul Keeling (Merlin-Rocket) 48.35, Andy Watterson (RS400) 50.46.
