A last minute drop goal from Rovers fly half Chris Sainty gave the home side a much needed victory as for Cleckheaton,huge disappointmen,their first defeat since October and a reality check.

Initially it appeared that the game would go the way of the form book when Richard Piper drove over for the first try in the fifth minute.Ross Hayden converted.Rovers hit back in the twentieth minute when veteran winger Steve Jones went over for a try in the corner which Sainty failed to convert. Any attempts Cleckheaton made to build phases and pressure in the first period were constantly twarted by either indisapline at the contact areas which either resulted in cheep penalties or being turned over.The half came to a close with Cleak narrowly in front 7pts to5pts.

Two early second half penalties from the Rovers fly half pushed the home side into the lead. From then on the visitors were en camped firmly in the homehalf of the field, but it wasn't until the sixty fifth minute that Cleckheaton regained control with a try from back row Ed Chappelow which Ross Hayden failed to convert.For the next fifteen minutes the visitors laid seige to the Rovers line with a series of rolling mauls.late in the game the home side retained their composure and repelled several try scoring efforts and as time ran out Rovers' forwards created the position for Sainty to win the match.

Hartlepool showed great resolve and spirit throughout, and maybe this result could kickstart there season. The mark of how far Cleckheaton have come this term after 2 or 3 tough and disappointing seasons will be gleened by how they react to this set back at home to Morpeth , a tricky side to play, next week.