Cleckheaton 22 - 11 Sheffield

Cleckheaton's league campaign took a short break to make way for the Yorkshire Cup last Saturday and with a couple of players carrying injuries, it was a great opportunity for younger squad players to further their 1st XV experience. Starts were handed to Josh White and Jack Seddon in a rearranged back row, whilst Keiron Downes made his 1st team debut at fullback. The bench also featured players from the wider squad, including Matt and Lewis Beasty, Robin Bennett, James Crowther and a long awaited return for Ollie Depledge.

The day was bitingly cold with a northerly wind blustering diagonally across the pitch. Sheffield, who also fielded a side featuring one or two fringe players, had the advantage of it at their backs in the first half. It was Cleckheaton though who made the first inroads five minutes in, when a quick tap penalty by Jack Bickerdike on the left hand side of the pitch, coupled with fast hands from Matty Piper and James Wilson put James Marshall in enough space to wrestle his way over the line. Michael Piper added the conversion.

Sheffield hit back with a penalty goal but seldom took full advantage of the wind to pin Cleckheaton back in their ow half. A number of forays in to Sheffield territory went without reward, before a powerful run from Josh White put the defence on the back foot and swift handling down the back line resulted in a try for Martin Woodhead, which remained unconverted. Sheffield had the opportunity to reduce the arrears with another penalty goal but the wind put paid to that and at the interval Cleckheaton led 12-3.

The visitors were successful with a penalty shortly after the restart to bring the sides within 6 points of each other but chances of a upset were short lived. A Cleckheaton line-out in Sheffield's 22 set up a number of forward drives before Paul Turner picked up and forced his way over. The conversion attempt, once again, was no match for the cross-wind.

Cleckheaton's best try of the day came with 15 minutes to go. Sheffield chipped over the Moorender's defence but the ball was fielded by Mike Piper in his own 22. The stand-off side stepped the Sheffield chaser before sweeping the ball wide to Ollie Depledge, who drew a defender and fed James Marshall. The winger set off on a 40m jaunt before passing back inside to the supporting Depledge, who sprinted in to mark his return to 1st team rugby after an injury enforced break of over 18 months, with fine try. The conversion was missed but the score had moved on to 22-6. Sheffield never gave up the ghost and pressed Cleckheaton hard in the last 5 minutes of the game, resulting in a hard earned consolation try. Cleckheaton will now face a trip to Wharfedale in the quarter final.

All Cleckheaton's substitutes were used, which will give those players valuable 1st team experience. Meanwhile, Richard Piper, Ollie Akroyd, and Rob Afoa Peterson were rested for the game and Ross Hayden only took part for the last 20 minutes. These four key players were all carrying injuries and hopefully the week's rest will find them in fine fettle as Cleckheaton go into a fortnight of rugby which could define their season. Next Saturday the Moorenders travel to West Hartlepool looking to end West's unbeaten home record. The week after, Cleckheaton will look to claim revenge over the only side to beat them in the league so far this year, when Huddersfield YMCA visit Moorend.