Cleckheaton received a warm welcome from the Sheffield club as they celebrated their past captains at a pre-match event. Whilst the hospitality was very well organised the game turned out to be a scrappy affair, which saw Sheffield hold out for a 14-5 victory on a day in which all 4 seasons of the year seemed to come and go in 80 minutes. Neither side was able to string together much flowing rugby and the game had a staccato rhythm with the referee constantly blowing his whistle and brandishing his yellow card. There were 6 cards in all, 3 for each side, in what was a fairly clean and good spirited match. Sheffield sit 5th in the table but over the two games between the sides this season there is really nothing much between them.

Cleckheaton pressed early on and took the game to the home team. Jack Seddon and Richard Piper both went close and when Sheffield’s prop tried to slow play down close to his own line, the referee quickly awarded his first yellow card. With Sheffield reduced to 14 men the Moorenders really should have pressed the advantage and got on the score sheet but were undone by unforced handling errors and poor kicks, which let Sheffield off the hook. Restored to full compliment, the home team chipped ahead and whilst dealing with the immediate threat, Cleckheaton had no choice but to allow Sheffield a line out within 10 metres of their whitewash. Like Cleckheaton, Sheffield have a well-rehearsed line out drill and with two second rows over 6ft 5”, the home team were to dominate this aspect of the game for most of the match. However it was No. 8, Jonny France that claimed the touchdown following a catch and drive from the South Yorkshire men. Jimmy Pearson converted. As the half drew to a close Cleckheaton's Mark Chivers and James Wilson were sin-binned for technical offences with 2 minutes of each other and Sheffield opted for a scrum close to the line, driving it over with their numerical advantage. France and Pearson once again registering the try and the conversion.

The sides changed ends with Sheffield holding a 14-0 lead. Cleckheaton attacked well up the centre of the field in the second half with Luke Pearson and Jack Seddon combining for the Moorenders’ furthest break of the match but this was not converted into points. Cleckheaton were gaining momentum but promising progress was hampered because their line out was under pressure and clean ball was far from guaranteed. Sheffield were able to turnover possession and clear their lines on a number of occasions. Eventually though, Cleckheaton's pressure took its toll and Jack Seddon went over for an unconverted try. One of Sheffield’s flankers was sin-binned shortly followed by Matt Piper as the teams vied to get in each others’ 22. With 5 minutes left on the clock Cleckheaton earned a penalty about 30m out and wisely decided to go for goal. The kick would have brought the scores within 6 points putting a bonus point on the board and leaving Cleck a converted try from victory, however the attempt drifted wide. The referee had one last blow on his well used whistle to signal the end of the game and Sheffield held on to all the spoils.

This game was certainly not a classic and Cleckheaton need to cut down the error count when they take on Lymm this Saturday if they want to get anything out of the match. What they will take away from their last game though, is that in the league this year, most sides could beat the other on any given day regardless of league position. Cleckheaton lost to Lymm in injury time in the reverse fixture but if they play to their potential and maintain their discipline for the full 80 minutes then they could end Lymm’s recent 4 game winning streak and start one of their own.