Cleckheaton 35 - 18 Carlisle

Cleckheaton’s second consecutive home fixture saw the side pick up their first bonus point win of the season backing up last week’s victory over Driffield and has surely marked the start of a real push towards contention for promotion.

The game started with a minute’s silence to honour the memory of committee member Nigel Earnshaw, who sadly passed away on Thursday.

Cleckheaton kicked off with the elements in their favour and were quick to seize the upper hand in all areas. The ever improving Dave Freeman was again a constant source of quality line out ball, which after only 11 minutes, allowed impressive fly half Iain Gordon to work a strike move direct from the set piece, and saw elusive winger Ross Hayden outpace the cover to score wide out. Gordon narrowly missed with the extras.

From the restart Cleckheaton, who were playing a more direct and simpler game than in previous weeks, immediately took the challenge back to Carlisle. That pressure led to several infringements and allowed the confident Iain Gordon to strike two penalties in quick succession extending their lead to 11-0.

To their credit, Carlisle defended admirably but had little opportunity with ball in hand as Cleckheaton dominated both areas of set piece and monopolised possession. Inevitably when Cleckheaton opted to kick to touch rather than take a further three points, the initial catch and drive was rebuffed, but from the ensuing scrum, with Andy Piper and Paul Turner to the fore, provided the platform for number 8 Richard Piper to cross for Cleckheaton’s second try. The conversion unluckily struck the upright.

Unlike the Labour leadership contest, prop Andy Piper, not wanting to be out done by his younger brother, crashed over from five yards out following some great build up play from a now rampant Cleckheaton side. Gordon superbly added the extras with a conversion neatly through the sticks.

As the half was drawing to a close, the home side were penalised at a ruck which allowed Carlisle stand off to tap and go and catch Cleckheaton somewhat unawares allowing his left winger to cross wide out. The conversion was missed putting the score at 23-5.

With Cleckheaton now playing against the wind, Carlisle were able to pin them back far easier. From one such kick the home side were deemed to be off side at a ruck allowing Carlisle to close the gap with a well struck penalty.

However any thoughts of a major fight back were soon quashed when six foot nine athletic second rower Dave Freeman received a neat off load from back rower Ryan Piercey to crash over wide out securing Cleckheaton’s first winning bonus point. Into a strong wind Gordon was again unlucky when he narrowly missed the conversion.

Carlisle responded again with a further three points from the boot of their fly half.

On sixty minutes head coach David Harrison elected to make a triple substitution to try to up the enthusiasm and really turn the screw. A flowing move that went through several phases, and involved the ever improving young wingman James Wilson on three occasions. The last of which was to put Richard Piper into the gap for a clear run in only for the referee to deem it as a forward pass.

Cleckheaton were now seeking to attack more freely and were eventually rewarded when vice captain Richard Piper capped off a fine man of the match performance with his second well taken try. Gordon added the two points.

The home side seemed to take their foot slightly off the gas which allowed Carlisle to grab a consolation try and conversion in the dying minutes putting the final score at 35-18.

The Moorend crowd were treated to a display of controlled organised rugby from the home side which was also backed up by the Kestrels with another fine win away at West Leeds (28-11).

Cleckheaton travel to Durham this weekend full of the confidence that they can take the form they have shown at home on the road.