Northern 23 - 12 Cleckheaton

Northern continue to hold the hoodoo over Cleckheaton and sealed a game which they led from the start, when they blazed in for a late try from 80 metres out. Cleckheaton never seemed to be able to find top gear in this match and also struggled to find the edge of Northern's pitch with the boot, which due to recent weather conditions was very claggy indeed.

An early penalty goal attempt by Iain Gordon drifted narrowly wide, before Northern registered the first points of the afternoon with a penalty of their own. Northern's pack were testing Cleck in the scrum and the task was made harder by the early loss of the experienced Grant Turton, who had to leave the field with a broken thumb. An operation the following day placed 2 pins into his fractured digit and he will be on the side lines until the New Year. Cleckheaton's woes were increased on the 20 minute mark when Jonathan Marshall was sin binned for being off-side on his own goal line but the visitors weathered the storm well. Cleck then had the advantage of numbers when Marshall returned and Northern's lock forward was sent to the bin for not releasing the ball. The player was lucky the colour of the card did not change to red as he loudly voiced his opinion of the decision to the referee and to the crowd. Cleckheaton were unable to make the advantage pay and a few minutes before half time Northern secured a line-out on the Moorender's 5 metre line and a competent catch and drive saw the Northern No.8 claim the touch down. The conversion was missed and at the interval the visitors led 8 - 0.

Cleckheaton hit back in the second period after pressing Northern's line for several minutes. Iain Gordon grubbered a ball through which ricocheted off 2 Northern players and a Cleckheaton player before coming to rest a foot from the try line. James Wilson was on hand to pick up the ball and pop it over the line. The try was unconverted.

Northern then extended their lead with a try in the left corner following a very well executed kick-chase move from the back of a scrum. The ball was moved swiftly along the back-line for the outside centre to chip through. The kick split Cleck's defence and the Northern winger won the chase for the touch down. the conversion attempt hit the post and the score moved on to 13-5. Cleckheaton responded in excellent fashion with a great try of their own. Ollie Akroyd spotted a split defence when Cleck were awarded a penalty in their own 22 and tapping the ball to himself, the flanker set off up the pitch. After making 30 metres he passed to James Wilson who brought the ball back in field and set up a ruck. Quick hands across the backs gave Ross Hayden space for a trademark jinking run which eventually earned the visitors a 5m scrum. Bickerdike, Gordon and Matt Piper combined well to put Johnno Marshall through a gap to go in under the sticks. The conversion reduced Northern's lead to 13-12 and Cleckheaton we're very much back in the game. Northern extended their advantage via a drop goal but there was still less than a try it. With just over five minutes left of normal time Cleckheaton were pushing hard at Northern's line and were threatening to score a try and take the lead for the first time. Unfortunately the ball was spilled along the back-line and Northern's speedy wingman gathered it, and with excellent support from his loose-head prop and open side flanker, Northern went almost the full length of the field for the decisive try.

Cleckheaton are still looking for their first win at Northern since the two sides re-started playing each other three seasons ago. The 1st XV have no game this Saturday but are planning to train and hold a team building event before watching the Kestrels. The Kestrels continue with their winning ways and two tries from Craig Blackburn and one each for Mark Sergeant and Carl Mason contributed to their 29-10 victory over Yarnbury.