Westoe 79 - 16 Cleckheaton

The hardy souls who travelled to South Tyneside last Saturday, ventured more in hope than with any optimism and the outcome was never really expected to be any different from what transpired. However, there were big efforts from a number of players who enhanced their reputations and the whole side never gave up.

A competitive first half with Cleck playing down the appreciable slope and with the wind was notable for Westoe's pace on the ball and the confident way the league leaders sought out their potent attacking weapons on the left wing and at centre. Five unconverted first half tries for Westoe was matched by an excellent try by Ben Wade for Cleckheaton, two Ross Hayden penalties, the conversion of Wade's try and a Michael Piper drop goal.

What is always evident as a season draws to a conclusion is that a fixture between a confident side pushing for promotion and used to winning and a team lacking confidence with only pride to play for accentuates the two extremes. It didn't take long before the proverbial floodgates opened and a succession of eight tries, seven of them converted by Westoe's new Kiwi 'find' Ashley Moeke, made a mockery of the narrow 16-14 victory they had struggled to achieve at Moorend in November. On that day Westoe were fortunate, four months later it was their composure, determination and clinical precision which completely obliterated Cleck's resistance.

Rugby is a cyclical game and the lesson in life is to accept that in a competitive environment there are bad times as well as good. This is one of the low points but the club has been at the top and it will get there again. If ever there was a time for the young Cleck players who are being 'blooded' at the moment, to adopt a role model, recognise their personal weaknesses and if they are serious in their search for improvement, structure their lives so as to give time to making those improvements, then the next few years will see Cleck regain their status as one of Yorkshire's top clubs.