Cleckheaton played some enterprising rugby at times against an accomplished Sheffield Tigers XV but we're also their own worse enemies at others, leaving them bottom of the table and still searching for their first league points in this year's campaign.

The game started brightly for the home side when Jack Seddon leapt above the whole of the Tigers pack to regain Cleckheaton’s kick off ball. For a good 10 minutes the Moorenders looked more likely to get the first points on the board as Tigers struggled to get out of their half. Tigers began to get into the game and showed their strike force when winger Jamie Broadley broke from just outside his own 22, outpacing the defence for a try under the sticks. Mark Irleand converted and then also added a penalty to give the South Yorkshire men a 10-0 lead. No. 8, Nick ‘Biff’ Pearson, increased the Tigers score with another try, breaking from the back of a scrum, but this time the conversion was missed. Cleckheaton's pack had a period of dominance, camping on the Tigers’ line for an extended period and looked certain to score through a driven maul. Inexplicably though, a player joined the push from the side, just as the ball was about to cross the line. The referee awarded a penalty to Tigers and the chance was gone. At the break the visitors led 15-0.

Cleckheaton started the second period brightly, playing to their strengths and keeping the ball tight. Tom Austin worked his socks off and Richard Piper was always a handful for the opposition defence but once again, as Tigers were marched back towards their goal line, a Cleckheaton infringement let off the pressure. The Sheffield team responded well with their relieving penalty and from the resulting line-out scored the best try of the game. The move started 50m out, with the ball going through several pairs of hands before flanker, Lee Monks, touched down in the corner. Cleckheaton gave themselves some hope when the platform created by the forwards gave Jack Bickerdike the opportunity to flick a ball out and a deft off load from Richard Piper allowed winger, Sam Walker, to power over in the corner.

Cleck’s set piece started to suffer mid way through the second period and they lost 2 consecutive line-outs and a scrum. The advantage Tigers gained was converted into points when prop Ed Simmons scattered the defence to score a converted try to bring the score to 27-5. The Moorenders had not given up hope though and Jack Bickerdike scooted over for Cleckheaton from close range. Mike Piper converted and the gathering faithful started to contemplate the thought of two more Cleckheaton tries, which would bring in two bonus points. It was not to be however, as the Tigers were to have the last word with two converted tries of their own in the last 10 minutes from substitute Liam Wallace and a second for Nick Pearson, giving the scoreboard a slightly lopsided look at 41-12 to the visitors.

Next weekend Cleckheaton head out of West Yorkshire for the first time this season when they travel to Lymm. The coaching staff and players will be doing their utmost to get some points from their trip to Cheshire before racing back to the club for the England v Wales world cup match at 8pm. Members and non-members are more the welcome to join us for this match on the big screen at the club.