Cleckheaton 18 - 49 Sheffield Tigers

Statistics don't always reflect the truth about a situation.However,in this particular case,four enforced changes necessitating seven positional changes from the previous week are likely to have adversely affected the cohesion and enthusiasm of Cleckheaton's already relegated side last Saturday.
In stark contrast to the woeful ending of the tale,the home side set out with early vigour with three tries in the first half hour from Andy Piper,Lance Hamilton and a sixty five yard interception try from Ross Hayden.Peter Murphy added a penalty in the 38th minute as Tigers responded with a Biff Pearson try and two penalties from full back Tom Outram.A seven point interval lead was just reward for Cleckheaton's first half enterprise against a much bigger Tigers pack.
The second half was a different matter.A fracas in the 48th minute seemed to signal the start of the end.The referee sinbinned a player from each side,skipper Paul Turner merely standing his corner,but from then on Tigers took control.Five converted tries and a Tom Outram penalty sent the crowd walking slowly to the solace of the adjacent cricket match and a season which started with optimism but ended with disappointment had finally come to an end.
Cleckheaton will now play in North One East or level six in the league structure.The Rugby Committee in discussion with the retained coaching staff have resolved that there is both a desire and in fact a true need to bounce back to level five at the first attempt.In essence the club needs a successful 1stXV winning more games than it loses.Losing becomes a habit as has been shown over the last five or six years.A club which is financially sound,which has four senior teams each playing more than 23 games in a season decimated by awful weather,which has a vibrant mini and junior section,should have success.No longer is it financial rewards which should dominate a players thoughts,but the need to achieve a winning culture through a team ethic-playing with and for their mates and their club.Old fashioned virtues perhaps but ones which have worked in the past and will in the future.Several players now need to stand up and lead the team into a more optimistic future.No excuses just hard work in pre season and a collective desire for improvement.