After a season of some uncertainty, Cleckheaton put their tenure in National League 3 next year beyond doubt with an emphatic bonus point win over mid-table Rossendale. The victory also means that the club completes the second half of the season unbeaten at home, following a huge turn around in fortunes since the New Year.

The game was played on a beautiful spring afternoon, ideal for rugby, in front of a sizeable crowd, which was boosted by a well attended pre-match lunch. The two sides exchange forays into each other’s territory in the first 20 minutes but neither side really threatened the other’s whitewash. Mid-way through the half a penalty gave Cleckheaton a line-out 15m from Rossendale’s line. The visitors’ sizeable pack successfully disrupted the Moorenders’ catch and drive but the forwards got the ball to ground and rucked over. Scrum half, Jack Bickerdike, cleared the final player, leaving Matt Piper at the base to make the next play. The Inside Centre picked up, dummied to his right and scooted his way over despite the attentions of a Rossendale defender. Ronan Evans added the conversion to give Cleckheaton a 7-0 lead.

Rossendale regained possession shortly after the restart and charged their forwards into Cleckheatons defence. A noteworthy hit by skipper, Richard Piper, knocked the ball onto the ground and the visitors’ hooker into the middle of next week, to rapturous applause from the crowd. With this possession Cleckheaton went on to score the best try of the day. Flanker, Jack Seddon, collected the ball just inside his own half of the pitch and charged at a Rossendale man braking the tackle. He then put on the gas, stepping round the next defender before finding James Wilson in support. Wilson drew Rossendale's fullback and passed back inside to Seddon to complete a superb effort.

George Peel went in for Rossendale to narrow the scores to 12-5 before Seddon added his second try following a line-out catch and drive. Ronan Evans missed the conversion but added a penalty goal at the end of the half to give Cleckheaton a 20-5 lead at the change of ends.

The majority of the second half remained scoreless with tempers fraying on both sides, resulting in two yellow cards for Cleckheaton and a red for Rossendale. With 10 minutes to go Danny Vento went in for Cleckheaton's bonus point try, guaranteeing the single point his team needed to mathematically seal safety in the division, after collecting the ball from the back of a scrum and darting in. The conversion attempt narrowly missed but the margin was now 25-5 and the game was in the bag. Rossendale’s Ryan de la Harpe got a consolation try for the visitors but that was not going to take the shine off an excellent performance from Cleckheaton, who thoroughly deserved their 5 point win.

The Kestrels also got a narrow 15-13 victory away at Stanley Rodillians (1st Team). Cleck's second string has had a tough and disrupted season. The weather and player availability being the issue earlier in the year and more recently finding opposition to play, as over the last few weeks the scheduled opponents have cried off a few days before. It is good that the team has stuck together through it and finishes the season with a win.