Cleckheaton 35 - 26 Cleckheaton

This was never going to be an easy game and in the end the best team on the day won,but although the Cleckheaton side never stopped trying,a lack of pace in the forwards and an alarming tendency to 'switch off' at vital times proved their undoing.In the Foreman brothers at half back,West had a potent partnership in creating space for their speedy outside backs.Unless a side is totally switched on and alert,such players will exploit lapses of concentration.Such was the case on Saturday where despite good performances from half backs Olly Depledge and Iain Gordon and a big supply of line out possession from new lock Dave Freeman,the home side went down to an opening day defeat.
Both sides looked nervous initially with several misdirected kicks and basic handling errors.It was West who settled first and a break out from their own half resulted in a converted try.Two further penalties from centre Paul Moss extended the lead but Cleckheaton hit back with three well struck penalties from Iain Gordon.The first half lacked any fluency with regular interruptions for penalties,injuries and lectures from the referee.Frustrations were rising to the surface and just prior to half time West winger Colin Cheslin was sent to the sinbin for expressing an opinion to the referee.Soon after,following a spate of penalties for technical offences at the ruck,Richard Piper was similarly given ten minutes.A 9-13 scoreline at half time reflected the closeness of the play but the threat of the West backs remained.
The second half began in fine style with an excellent Iain Gordon try wide out countered by a converted try from the visitors.Further tries from Ross Hayden and Craig Blackburn and an Iain Gordon conversion completed the scoring for Cleckheaton.However,the motivated West side scored two further tries,one of which was converted and in the last minutes a Gareth Foreman drop goal denied Cleck their deserved bonus point.
A big disappointment for all concerned.The Cleckheaton players themselves looked shocked that they had not reached the level of performance achieved in pre season matches.In reality the opposition were impressive but this doesn't hide the fact that Cleck themselves have ambitions and need to step up a gear.
On a sour note,the new editor of this regular epistle,Nigel Earnshaw was badly injured last Sunday in a motorcycle accident.He is presently in Bradford Royal Infirmary with a badly broken leg,hip and collar bone and is likely to be out of action for some time.The clubs' best wishes go to Nigel for a speedy recovery.
The usual scribe from past years has regained the mantle of editor in chief(without portfolio)and will continue his duties until Nigel returns.