Mowden Park 10 - 10 Cleckheaton

The revival continues and in gaining six points from the last two games,a quiet confidence is circulating around Moorend that relegation can be avoided.Selection never likes to change a winning team but two enforced changes meant Richard Piper replacing the injured Steve Worsley at hooker and Geoff Jones coming back into the back row.Ian Gordon made his first start at fly half with Pete Murphy moving to centre,Tom Lauriston to the wing and Mitch Ashworth dropping to the bench.
Back in October DMP had inflicted Cleck's heaviest defeat of the season but the realisation was that this coincided with one of the worst performances to date.This was another day and another team.
Cleckheaton played with the stiff breeze in the first half but were unable to make much headway as Park's hard running centres made holes in the Cleck line.After 12 minutes centre Matt Goforth romped over near to the posts,fly half Richie Young converting.The visitors defence improved but ball retention was inconsistent,probably not helped by DMP's activities in the ruck,transgressions which they paid for with a yellow card in the 23rd minute.The Cleck back line started to function with good distribution from both Ian Gordon and Pete Murphy which began to take it's toll on Park's defence.Unfortunately Murphy received a yellow card in the 27th minute for an illegal tackle but despite being one man down Cleck continued to exert pressure.In the 29th minute a penalty was kicked to the corner for a catch and drive.Unfortunately the ball was lost and a clear chance went begging.
Mitch Ashworth came on for the injured Matt Piper just before half time with Tom Lauriston moving into his more accustomed role at centre.
At half time Coach Dave Harrison made it quite clear as to his feelings and Cleck started the second half like they meant it.The scrummage tightened and Matt Burrows started to make inroads from the base of the scrum.After one good surge out of their own half the ball was rapidly transferred to Mitch Ashworth on the wing.He made ground down the touchline to inside the DMP 22;support was on hand and Tom Lauriston scored for the second week in succession.Ian Gordon missed the conversion.
DMP hit back and when Geoff Jones,who was playing at his irritating best,was yellow carded in the 55th minute Richie Young kicked the resultant penalty from in front of the posts.
In the 56th minute Andy Piper replaced Andy Goodwin and Cleck started to increase the pressure both territorially and in terms of possession.Tom Clough entered the fray and made an immediate impression with a good break from halfway deep into DMP's 22 only to be hauled down by the last defender.Minutes later,after a storming run from Ryan Piercy the pack rapidly recycled the ball and Lance Hamilton emerged from the ruck to run in half way out from the posts.Ian Gordon missed the relatively straightforward conversion.It was all Cleck now but after a series of  promising attacks broke down the ball was hacked into the Cleck 22 and DMP laid seige to the line.An attempted drop goal was foiled with a rushing defence,Park retained possession but strong defence eventually resulted in an attacking knock on.Cleck won the scrum and the game ended all square.
This was a game which could have yielded another four points.However,two points for the draw was some reward for a hard working performance.Because of the change in personnel the line out was less productive than of late,but overall confidence is growing and the visiting Tigers from Sheffield will have taken note prior to their visit to Moorend on Saturday which kicks off at 2-15.