Team Northumbria 20 - 20 Cleckheaton

On their first ever visit to Bullocksteads, Cleckheaton gained a well merited draw which earned them two points and the retention of fourth place in the league. However, it could have been so much more. The talented students, who make up Team Northumbria, had pace to burn in their outside backs but the visitors well drilled defensive line was rarely breached, resulting in many attacks being forced laterally. Cleck's more powerful players used their strength in the forwards to close down space and coupled this with good technique to turn ball over following the tackle.

Northumbria fullback, Ash, missed with an attempt at goal in the 5th minute after which the lively Cleckheaton pack exerted pressure and from good line out possession, provided by Ryan Piercy, Ed Chappelow was awarded a try following an excellent drive from the whole pack. Iain Gordon was wide with the conversion. Steve Worsley gained two strikes against the head for the visitors, his job made easier by Cleck's superiority in this area, however Cleckheaton's robust play around the ruck and in the tackle was not to the referee's liking and a string of penalties resulted. Northumbria countered and centre Goodwin, a member of the Scottish 7`S squad, burst through for a try which was converted by Ash who also added a further penalty on the stroke of half time.

Ash extended the home side's lead early in the second half with another penalty but Cleckheaton soon hit back when centre Pete Murphy offloaded out of contact to feed winger Mitch Ashworth, who scored a good try wide out after cutting inside to wrong foot the defence. Iain Gordon missed the conversion but was successful ten minutes later with a penalty to level the scores.

Maybe surprisingly it was Cleck who where finishing the stronger and looked the fitter of the 2 sides. As the game entered the last quarter both sides launched all out attacks and a try from scrum half Blyth, converted by Ash, gave the home side the advantage but Cleck responded well, an excellent solo try from Cleckheaton fullback Jonathon Marshall, which was converted by Iain Gordon left the honours even at the final whistle. On balance a fair reflection of the play.