An off day for Cleckheaton as the team got blown away in the first half of the game, which saw Rossendale have the initial advantage of the heavy slope at Marl Pitts and left Cleckheaton with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Cleckheaton got the scoring underway when Ronan Evans struck a penalty goal 5 minutes in but Rossendale responded almost immediately after the Moorenders conceded 2 or 3 penalties in quick succession close to their own line and Simon Walker burrowed over for the home team. Steve Nutt converted to give Rossendale a 7-3 lead.

Rossendale went further ahead when a mixture of good fortune and Cleckheaton being guilty of not playing to the whistle, led to the home team’s second try. What appeared to be a blatant knock-on by Rossendale in centre field caused the West Yorkshire men to stop chasing the player with the ball, expecting the scrum call. Rossendale continued their attack and by the time Cleckheaton had realised the whistle wasn’t going to sound, Nutt was in the act of scoring. The same player converted his own try. Rossendale scored another break away try via Jack Ward and it was becoming apparent that the home team had considerable pace in their back line. Danny Vento was yellow carded for an alleged off-the-ball tackle, which went unseen by the majority and whilst Cleckheaton were down to 14 men, George Peel scored Rossendale’s 4th try.

Cleckheaton started to get into the game again on the half hour mark when 20 year old 2nd row, Luke Pearson, who has played in all Cleckheaton’s league games this season and has earned a well deserved 1st team tie, turned over Rossendale’s line out. Matt Piper and Danny Vento drove the ball in hard before it came out to winger Martin Woodhead, who feigned a pass to his right and strolled through the gap for a well taken try. Evans converted despite the swirling wind. At 26-10 down Cleckheaton were still very much in the game and could look forward to playing down hill in the 2nd half. Unfortunately Rossendale were not done making the most of the slope and scrum half James Bramhall went in under the sticks, leaving Nutt to add the extras to close the half 33-10.

Cleckheaton were not overwhelmed by their arrears and knew 3 tries would get them at least one and possibly two valuable league points, anything more and it was game on again. The players started with intent and camped in Rossendale’s 22, using their forwards to good effect. The home team found it hard to clear their lines for any length of time and Cleck’s trademark catch and drive netted a try for Richard Piper. Cleckheaton could have easily scored another couple of tries if not for handling errors and looked like a different team playing downhill. However it was not to be Cleckheaton’s day and with Rossendale on the back foot, deep in their own territory, a loose pass from the Moorenders went to ground and was booted up field by the opposition. Despite a 75m chase, it was Rossendale’s Alex Hurst that won the race and dived on the ball to score against the run of play. Nutt converted to bring the score to 40-15. With 10 minutes left to play, the ground was subject to a torrential downpour of monsoon proportions, hampering any further constructive play and sealing a dismal day for Cleckheaton.

Cleckheaton face Rossendale again in mid April at Moorend and need to make fewer mistakes if they are to get anything out of the game. Next week 2nd place Wirral are the visitors and starting from the defeat of Cleckheaton last November, they come into the match having lost just once in the last dozen fixtures. A tough test awaits but Cleckheaton respond well to being classed as the underdog by the away support and Wirral will have to work very hard to be victors at Moorend.