Cleckheaton scored six tries and picked up a valuable five league points against bottom club Burnage, in what was a must win game for the Moorend side making a bid to raise themselves out of the relegation zone. Cleckheaton started well on the 3G pitch, which has been in place at the South Manchester team’s ground for the last few seasons and got the scoring underway with a penalty goal from Michael Piper. Despite the success of that kick, the same player’s radar was out of sync on the day, as Cleckheaton missed the opportunity to pile pressure on the home side when 4 or 5 penalty kicks for touch failed to leave the playing area. Gifted with the unexpected possession, Burnage were able to counter-attack and used the sometimes eccentric bounce on the artificial surface at Varley Park to their advantage. A speculative kick through was not caught on the full and the homeside’s centre gratefully scooped up the ball for an unconverted try. A penalty from Burnage a few minutes later put them into an 8-3 lead by the 20 minute mark but this was not to last long. Cleckheaton’s pack battled their way down field and after Richard Piper drove the ball close, Man of the Match, Jack Seddon, fought his way over the whitewash. The conversion was missed but Cleckheaton continued in the ascendency with Mikey Heyward putting in some mazy runs and Jack Bickerdike making yards with scoots from the back of rucks. After a successful line-out in Burnage’s 22, with James Crowther and Luke Pearson combining well, Cleck stand-off, Ronan Evans, incidentally playing against his brother in the Burnage colours, claimed the family bragging rights when his shimmy wrong footed the defence for a converted try. Cleckheaton’s lead of 15-8 was cut to 15-11 at the break with a penalty for Burnage, as Andy Piper caught a ball that hit him in the chest whilst he was stood in an off-side position.

Cleckheaton made a few personnel changes in the second half with James Wilson moving to fullback to replace Mike Piper, Tom Austin switching to wing and Danny Graham coming on in the back row. Ben Thrower also replaced Andy Piper during the half and Mark Chivers took the field, playing his first league game for the club since 2008. Cleckheaton started the second period in determined mood. A strong break from Lee Queeley gave the visitors good field position from which Matt Piper barged his way across the line, whilst somehow preventing the opposition defenders pushing him into touch. Burnage added a penalty goal to stay within reach but Cleckheaton responded with two of their own via the boot of Evans. Richard Piper eventually secured the victory when he went in for the team’s bonus point try after strong approach work from Paul Turner and Ryan Piercy, to put Cleck into a 33-14 lead. Burnage did keep fighting though including, in one bizarre and seldom seen moment, with each other when an altercation between the home team’s two second rows led to one punching the other. Cleckheaton looked to make headway and find an overlap whilst a 3rd Burnage player broke up the scrap but the referee pulled play back and gave Cleckheaton a penalty. Fired up, Burnage scored under the sticks to give them hope at 33-21 in arrears. However it was to be Cleckheaton’s day as they secured a well deserved win when James Wilson scored close to the uprights and then Matt Piper went in for his 2nd on the 80 minute mark, following an excellent pass out of the back door from Seddon. Evans converted one, whilst hitting the post with the other for a final score of 45-21.

A great second half performance saw Cleckheaton pull away from bottom placed Burnage and hopefully the victory will give them the confidence boost they need, to see them pull away from the relegation zone over the coming weeks. The game was played on the first anniversary of the sudden passing of former club President Alan Bentley and the victory was a fitting tribute.