Cleckheaton 54 - 7 Harrogate

Cleckheaton took all the plaudits with an excellent display of controlled rugby against an inexperienced Harrogate line up. Being semi-finalists in the last two years Cleckheaton again showed their respect for the County Cup by selecting a strong side, the reward being an eight try celebration of how the game should be played. First half tries from Martin Woodhead, Paul Turner and James Wilson added to a conversion, penalty and drop goal from Iain Gordon opened a 23 point lead at the break for the home side. This was just reward for a Cleckheaton side which had produced probably their most controlled rugby of the season. The half back combination of Jack Bickerdike and Iain Gordon literally ran the show with the latter kicking wonderful angles making defenders having to attack from deep, and the scrum half showing flair and imagination in his decision making. An isolated flare up just after the break resulted in two yellow cards and one red. Normality was resumed and Harrogate hit back with a try from Chalmers converted by Joe Rowntree. Cleckheaton were in no mood to relax and in a spectacular second half excellent handling, support play and power from the whole side resulted in five further tries from Martin Woodhead, Grant Turton and a hat trick from the game's best forward Ryan Piercy.

The one notable factor in this game was the precision of the team's execution. Far fewer penalties were conceded than normal and the team showed high skill levels and excellent support in all parts of the field. Four of the tries were converted by Iain Gordon and Cleckheaton moved into the quarter final of the competition to be played in February. Their opponents wil be the winners of the Morley v Middlesbrough tie yet to be played. Significantly the game will be played at Moorend and the chance is there for a third successive semi final, which will also be played at the home of the victors.