Percy Park 16 - 32 Cleckheaton

A bonus point victory against the previously unbeaten league leaders, Percy Park, was just reward for a magnificent all round team performance by Cleckheaton.

In the testing conditions it was Percy Park who were first on the scoreboard with an Ashley Smith penalty but Iain Gordon leveled matters for the visitors a minute later, with a kick from thirty metres.

The early exchanges were evenly contested with Cleckheaton guilty of trying to over play the contact and seeking 50-50 off loads which weren`t coming off. Park were able to capitalise on these errors and a period of pressure saw Martin Shaw scored the game's first try, which was converted by Smith, giving the home side a 10 to 3 advantage. Two further penalties from the full back were countered by an Iain Gordon penalty on the stroke of half time, but despite the ten point deficit Cleckheaton had dominated the forward exchanges and were still in the match.

The half time chat was simply to irradicate the penalties and minimise the errors and Cleck knew they had the fire power to put their high flying hosts under severe pressure.

The second half was all Cleckheaton. The pack were dominating the scrum and with Dave Freeman outstanding in the middle of the line, possession was never going to be an issue. An excellent service from young scrum half Oliver Depledge allowed Iain Gordon to dictate play from outside half. A strike move from a set scrum allowed Gordon to pick out the free runner from three options, Matt Piper burst through midfield untouched, then at full pace released a 30 yard pass which found try machine Ross Hayden who, without having to break stride, raced over for a contender for try of the season. Two further tries followed from front rower Andy Piper who was on hand on both occasions to finish off some impressive driving play from the forwards with Ed Chappelow to the fore. Iain Gordon, back in fine form with the boot, converted two of the three tries, to put the Yorkshiremen well in control of matters at 25 to 16.

The home side seemingly out of ideas as to how to break free from the strangle hold held by the Cleck outfit, attempted to chip kick out of defence, only for Cleckheaton's player coach Pete Murphy to intercept on half way and romp over to the delight of the visitors supporters. Iain Gordon added the extras and the long trip to North Shields became a joyous occasion and a fine bonus point win on the road.