Cleckheaton once again lost a game they could have won, going down 25-15 to the visitors from Cumbria and causing much frustration for head coach Scott Benton. A well prepared game plan wasn’t executed on the day and with the team into double figures for both handling and kicking errors, they were at times their own worst enemies.

Kendal fullback Woof, got the scoring underway when a speculative chip over Cleckheaton's defence bounced once and straight into his hands for a try under the posts. Glenn Weightman converted. Weightman then added a penalty goal to give the visitors a 10-0 lead. For the remainder of the half it was all Cleckheaton and for this period of the game they looked a class above their opponents. First Josh Hall added 3 points with a penalty kick and then Kendal's defence fell away under pressure and Man of the Match, Jack Seddon raced through a large gap for a try at the side of the sticks. Josh Hall converted. Cleckheaton were hogging territory and possession and just before the half time break, Martin Woodhead sealed a strong return to the side, when he squeezed in at the corner for another try to put his side in the lead 15-10 at half time.

A short grubber kick from Kendal to restart the game after the interval was just about fielded by Cleckheaton but put them immediately on the back foot. With new found enthusiasm Kendal turned over the ball a few moments later, something they would do several times in the rest of the game. Glenn Weightman threw an outrageous dummy and sprinted through the gap for a try that he converted to put the Cumbrians back into a narrow lead. Cleckheaton tried to respond but without success and some poor option taking and very ordinary kicking thwarted their progress. Kendal scored again through Danny Barker, this time unconverted but Weightman did add another penalty goal to re-establish the 10 point advantage. Kendal's lead was never reduced despite the fact that with the very last kick of the game Cleckheaton had a chance to score a penalty that would have bagged them a bonus point. Unfortunately the kick, in a central location, drifted to the left of the uprights summing up Cleckheaton's afternoon.

It’s a time of reflection and regrouping now for the squad. Their league position this year does not reflect the capability of the side. In the last few games they have been perhaps guilty of trying too hard to score points, forcing plays, throwing the ball about in their own third of the pitch and kicking good possession away in attacking areas, trying to take a short cut to the line. In many cases these decisions have played into the hands of the opposition and apart from Morley, all games at Moorend this year have ended in narrow defeat. However, Cleckheaton do have to play all these teams again and with a little patience, self belief and a focus on sticking to the game plan, away wins in the reverse fixtures are all within easy grasp.

This weekend Cleckheaton travel up to Billingham to face the Teeside team, who have got off to a roaring start and currently lie 3rd in the table. A tough test, where a full team performance is paramount. From this weekend onwards, until March, all games kick off at the earlier time of 2.15pm