A disappointing display from Cleckheaton after two very encouraging performances thus far in 2017. The team didn't really turn up for this one and allowed Sandal to amass some easy points. Sandal are a competent side but the six tries they ran in exaggerated the differences between the two sets of players.

The home team got on the score sheet first after a charged down kick and a fumble from Cleckheaton were capitalised on by Sandal. Winger, Dom Fawcett, gathered the ball and glided through some uncommitted defence for the opening try. Greg Wood converted. Cleckheaton tried to get themselves into the match but conceded penalties which piggybacked Sandal upfield. From a line out just outside Cleckheaton's 22, the home pack caught the ball and drove Cleckheaton’s forwards backwards at speed, until they finally crashed over the whitewash with Ash Norbury claiming the touchdown. Wood once again improved the score to give Sandal a 14-0 lead.

Cleckheaton slowly but surely started to make their way into the game with defensive effort much improved, it was Sandal’s turn to commit fouls and Cleckheaton went for the corner. A good throw from Ben Thrower and a solid set from the pack allowed Cleckheaton to drive forward, with Richard Piper getting the ball down. From the restart Sandal turned over possession and put Cleckheaton on the back foot again. An initial break was stopped by scrambling defence but Sandal back rower, Carolan, took the ball at pace and shot to the line. Wood converted once more. Cleckheaton finished the half with the best worked try of the day, when Jack Bickerdike, Neil Chivers and Matt Piper combined to put Cammy Burnhill through a hole in the defence and the fullback sprinted in 20 metres for an excellent try. The conversion drifted wide but the sides changed ends with Sandal winning 21-12.

The second half held promise for Cleckheaton and getting the first score would have made a significant difference. However the game plan seemed to go out of the window and Cleckheaton's kicking out of hand let them down, with a poor clearance kick falling straight into the hands of Sandal’s back line and Fawcett ghosting in for his second. Frewin on the other wing for Sandal scored his side's 5th try before Sam Whittingham went in for their 6th following a line out close to Cleckheaton's line. Greg Wood converted 2 or Sandal’s 3 unanswered 2nd half tries for a 40-12 victory over the Moorenders.

A performance that the team knows cannot be repeated when they play their now crucial game against Doncaster Phoenix at Moorend on Saturday week. The team are good enough to be higher in the league than their current 10th, if they only cut out a small number of errors from each game and more importantly stick to the pre-arranged game plan, which they train to each week. A win against Doncaster Phoenix will give them a very welcome 9 point cushion on the relegation zone and will have them right on the heels of 9th place Ilkley. A loss is not an option.