Cleckheaton 23 Driffield 17

Cleckheaton completed the double over battling Driffield on Saturday despite being outscored 3 tries to 2 in the game. Cleckheaton were at full strength with an unchanged team from the defeat at Durham two weeks ago, Ben Dearing , Archie Rika Rayne and Chris Piper warming the bench after their day out with the Kestrels last week.
The Moorend pitch was in reasonable condition after the heavy rain recently and the game started in bright and breezy condition with the home team making most of the early going, however Cleckheaton were forced into early changes when flanker Joey Carley hobbled off and Rika-Rayne replaced him going into the hookers spot while Ben Thrower filled in at second row and Marsden went flanker.Dale Breakwell put the first points on the board with a 40 metre penalty for an offence at the ruck, 3-0 after 8 minutes.
The scoreboard barely had time to register the score before Depledge and Wilson exchanged passes down the blindside with the Full Back surging away for his 7th try of the season, Breakwell added the goal to give Cleckheaton the lead 10-0 after 12 minutes. A further goal by Breakwell extended the lead to 13-0 on 17 minutes.
Driffield had hardly threatened in the first quarter but on 23 minutes after going through several phases the second row Alex Cullen got across the line for Driffield's opening score, Watts was short with the conversion 13-5. Driffield were getting a foothold in difficult conditions but solid defence by the Cleckheaton pack kept the Woldsmen from adding to their score. Dale Breakwell found a different way of applying pressure by putting up a series of towering kicks which had the Driffield defence in disarray. On 37 minutes right wing Jack Marshall showed considerable skill which parted the Driffield defence and he romped away to score his 11th try of the season, Breakwell added the extras and Cleckheaton led 20-5 at half time.
Early in the second half with Driffield attacking down the right, Jack Seddon intercepted and raced away down the touchline, he was pulled down on the 22 and Driffield cleared the danger. Driffield were monopolising the possession at this stage and when left wing Ben Blacker got into space , his opposite number Marshall cut him down with a magnificent tackle and also created a turnover to clear the Cleckheaton line. On 60 minutes , Blacker scooted over from 10 metres as the defence got pulled into the middle of the field, Watts added the easy goal from under the posts and it was 20-12.
Driffield kept piling on the pressure and the home faithful were getting concerned as their lead was slipping away but solid defence was the order of the day as wave after wave of attacks were repelled. On 77 minutes after a mistake from the visitors gave Cleckheaton a rare scrum inside the opposition 22, the referee penalised Driffield for offside and Breakwell kicked his 3rd successive penalty to take the lead out to 23-12. The game still had more drama to come as a sweeping move up the right put winger Rueben Kelly over for the visitors 3rd try, the conversion was again off target 23-17. Cleckheaton needed to make sure they gave Driffield no more chances in a 6 point game when Breakwell drilled a low restart towards the left touchline, Driffield couldn't recover it and the game ended 23-17.
Ben Thrower picked up the Man of the Match award for Cleckheaton while Alex Cullen was Driffield Man of the Match.
Games between these two sides are nearly always close run affairs and this edition was no different. Cleckheaton remain in 2nd place behind York while Moortown have gone above Driffield after their victory over Kendal this evening.
Next week Cleckheaton make the short trip to Morley where they will look to avenge a narrow defeat in early November, kick off is at 3:00 pm.