Morley 14 - 26 Cleckheaton

This well earned victory over old rivals completed an excellent pre season for a Cleckheaton side which has now beaten two higher ranking clubs both away from home on successive Saturdays. The first half hour was one way traffic with the visitors dominating both possession and territory.The first try came on 10 minutes when good lineout possession was driven to the line expertly with Captain Richard Piper being awarded the try which was converted by Ross Hayden.Every time Cleckheaton had the ball they looked dangerous.Two further tries from Ross Hayden and James Marshall both converted by the excellent Hayden emphasised the dominance of the visitors. Morley had been hit by a well motivated outfit and their efforts to stem the tide had been met by defiant defence.In the 35th minute Morley were able to create pressure for the first time in the match and were rewarded with a try for hooker Kyle Scott which was converted by Charlie Spon-Smith.
With the strong wind at their backs Morley came more into the game at the start of the second half and a try from Bradley Marshall converted by Mark Chester reduced the arrears. Cleckheaton's response was to regain their ascendancy in the set scrums and a try from Oliver Akroyd, who had been influential all afternoon,following good work from Rob Afoa-Peterson, settled the collective Cleckheaton nerves. Ross Hayden missed the conversion and a late penalty chance but the game was won and the team can now look forward with great confidence to the start of the league campaign at Malton next Saturday and the resumption of the County Cup provisionally set for February 1st at home to Sheffield.
Their were several stand out performances especially from the triumverate of Pipers-Richard,Matt and Andrew.Paul Turner was prominent in a good pack performance and newcomers Rob Afoa-Peterson and Alex Dawson showed that they will be big assets.Jack Bickerdike controlled things as usual and the team as a whole looked comfortable with great direction and purpose.