Cleckheaton held out for a deserved win against West Yorkshire rivals, Ilkley, on a muddy mid-winter pitch at Moorend. Joe Rowntree got Ilkley on the scoreboard with a penalty goal after 5 minutes but then a long kick down field from Cleckheaton was not cleared and as Ilkley’s back three tried to over-engineer their way out of their territory, they got caught in possession and conceded a penalty just outside the 22. Ronan Evans kicked the ball to the corner and Cleckheaton’s powerful pack would not be stopped. An assured throw from James Crowther and clean catch by Luke Pearson set up the ball up for the drive, which was well controlled resulting in an unconverted try for Richard Piper. 10 minutes later Ilkley winger Paul Petchey was sent to the sin bin. From the associated penalty, Cleckheaton put the ball in the corner again. With Paul Turner and Mark Chivers hoisting Ryan Piercy to the throw, another successful set-piece was underway and with all the pack pushing hard, the drive proved too strong for Ilkley’s defence and Richard Piper went in for his second try. The conversion was missed and on the stroke of half time Cleckheaton back row, Jack Seddon, was sin binned for entering the ruck from the side. The teams changed ends with Cleckheaton holding a 10-3 advantage.

The second half saw a lot of play in the middle third of the pitch with neither side producing a kicking game to challenge the other. Rowntree did however slot another 3 points for the visitors. The game seemed like it may be heading Ilkley’s way half way through the second period when a well worked backs move sent a player on a dash through Cleckheaton’s defence. Mikey Hayward showed great pace to turn and catch Ilkley’s centre, reaching out for his shoulders and pulling him down. Whilst the Cleckheaton faithful were applauding what was to them, a great cover tackle, the referee was brandishing his yellow card for what he consider a high tackle and Hayward started his spell in the bin. To make things more difficult for Cleckheaton, Richard Piper was then yellow carded 2 minutes later as Ilkley pressurised Cleck’s line. The Moorenders seemed up against unlikely odds to keep Ilkley out whilst down to 13 men but in what could be a pivotal point in this year’s campaign, rose manfully to the challenge. The ball was kept tight in the forwards with Matt Piper also very eager to add his enthusiasm from the centre to drive Ilkley back and keep possession away from them for long spells. The 10 minutes passed and Cleckheaton, restored to full compliment, went back on the attack. From a line-out which followed the 5th yellow card of the day, this time for Ilkley’s Elliot Morgan, the forwards set up another drive. The keen eyed may have noticed Michael Piper slip into the stand off position whilst Cleck’s forwards set up a ruck. A quick pass from Bickerdike to Piper was followed by a neat slight of hand by the acting half-back which split Ilkley’s defence asunder before a short pass to Matt Piper put the centre through a large hole for a try under the sticks. Ronan Evans added the extras to propel Cleckheaton into a 17-6 lead. Ilkley got a consolation try through Pat Power, which Rowntree converted, earning Ilkley a bonus point and making for a tense last 5 minutes. However the scorer was troubled no further and Cleckheaton secured a 17-13 win.

Though the conditions were not conducive to much flowing rugby, they suited Cleckheaton on the day. The defensive effort and the ability to deny their opposition possession of the ball for considerable periods, especially during the time they were reduced to 13 men, is what secured the game for them. The 1st XV have no match this weekend but then travel to Sheffield to face the side they were beating after 80 minutes earlier in the season, only to lose by a point following an eighty fifth minute penalty try.