Defences were on top, near Altrincham in Cheshire, for the first 30 mins of rugby in the 2018/19 season. Both sides were determined to keep the other out with no signs of pre-season rustiness in the tackling department. The deadlock was broken when Cleckheaton won a scrum within 10m of Bowdon’s line and the pack pushed the opposition over, with Plunkett guiding the ball to the whitewash from the No. 8 spot.

The sides changed ends with Cleck leading 7-0. The second half saw Cleckheaton assert some dominance and with the wind at their backs, put Bowdon under a lot of pressure. Tries from Swetman, at his former club, Evans finishing a move that started in Cleck’s half, Thrower sneaking down the blindside and Carley outflanking Bowdon’s cover tacklers put Cleck into a 31-0 lead. With the clock striking 80 minutes Bowdon were rewarded for their own efforts with a well worked consolation try.
A very positive warm up for the boys with plenty for the team and coach Thiu Barnard to take from the game.