Cleckheaton travelled to Sheffield and kept their winning start to the season going with a 18 – 7 victory. Sides that do well in any of the leagues somehow manage to win games even when they are not at their best. Last weekend was a classic example of this for Cleckheaton, who struggled, at various points in the game, to get rhythm in their line outs or power in their scrums. They were however ultimately too good for Sheffield and the defensive effort that stood out against Rochdale a few weeks ago was once again to the fore.

Cleckheaton were unable to pick up a try scoring bonus point for the first time this year but things could perhaps have been different if the referee had seen Richard Piper spin off the back of a maul and clearly ground the ball over the line 5 minutes into the game. The ref’s focus was still on the body of players who had been left behind when Piper spun away and instead of a try, an attacking scrum was given to Cleckheaton instead. Cleck could not get their line out or scrum working well in the first half and the first two throw-ins and the first two scrums were both taken against the head. Whilst Cleckheaton were not under too much pressure themselves, due to the excellent kicking game of Man of the Match Ross Hayden, mistakes and penalties meant the Moorenders could not turn their majority possession into scoring opportunities.

The deadlock was broken on the 28th minute when a good kick and chase by Craig Blackburn put pressure on the Sheffield fullback just outside their 22. The defender skewed his kick straight into touch and when Sheffield infringed at the subsequent line-out Ross Hayden slotted a penalty over for the first points of the game. Hayden doubled the score to 6-0 with another penalty a few minutes later as the home side were penalised for not releasing the tackled player.

Despite a losing start to the season, Sheffield are a decent side who’s skill and commitment will lift them higher up the table as the season goes on. They demonstrated this with a series of strong runs from the restart and made themselves space on the right hand side. Sheffield’s winger looked odds on to score but Matt Piper made a try saving tackle, which bundled the winger into touch. On the stroke of half time Ben thrower was sin binned.

Cleckheaton rode the storm of being down to 14 men for the first part of the second half and not long after they were back to full compliment, Jack Bickerdike and James Wilson combined, with the winger sprinting down the touchline, turning inside to draw the full back before passing back out to Bickerdike who had looped round onto the wing for an excellent try. The conversion drifted wide.

The visitor’s 11-0 advantage didn’t last that long however as infringements gave Sheffield good field position and allowed them to batter the Cleckheaton defensive line with wave after wave of attack. After several phases the back line had an advantage of numbers on their right and executed the overlap well to go in at the corner. The conversion made it 11-7.

Cleckheaton responded well and brought a bit of steel to Sheffield for the first time in the game. Many players had strong runs into the tiring Sheffield defence and following one such barge from Matt Piper, Ollie Akroyd threw a nicely timed pass to Richard Piper, who sprinted in for a try under the sticks. The conversion made it 18-7, where the score stayed for the remaining 15 minutes.

At times an unconvincing performance, but nevertheless a victorious one and with Lee Queeley, Martin Woodhead, Michael Piper and Rob Afoa Peterson all back available for Selection next weekend, coach Ian Armitage will have some confidence that the team can make it 5 wins from 5 games when we welcome Alnwick to Moorend this Saturday.