Cleckheaton’s excellent season continued with a seven try bonanza and an individual performance from full back Ross Hayden which was out of the top drawer. In stark contrast to previous weeks the home side were slow out of the blocks. The battling Boro outfit took advantage of a strange lack of urgency and took the lead with a try from winger Conner Foley converted by Matthew Todd. Ten minutes later Cleckheaton responded with a clever try from winger Craig Blackburn following an accurate cross field kick from Michael Piper. Ross Hayden missed the conversion from wide out but he was more accurate when converting a try from the free scoring James Wilson, the newly installed centre finishing off an excellent passage of play involving both backs and forwards. The visitors were still in the game when Matthew Todd kicked a penalty and the game was finely balanced at the break.
The big crowd swelled by 150 pre match diners was rewarded for their encouragement and support with a second half performance which few sides at this level would have been able to cope with. Events unfolded straight from the restart when the ball was driven up field firstly by Richard Piper and taken further by his brother Matt who cut inside to find the supporting Ross Hayden who in turn sprinted clear to score his first try of the game which he converted. The Cleckheaton forwards were now in the ascendancy and their dominance of the line outs was almost total. With experienced front row forwards Paul Turner and Andy Piper entering the fray at the break the pack was now showing more urgency and control. Turner drove over for his team’s fourth and bonus point try which Ross Hayden converted and the Cleck machine was now rolling. On the hour mark came the highlight of the afternoon. Field position was established and Ross Hayden carried the ball into the Boro 22.There seemed little chance of a scoring opportunity but the league’s leading points scorer defied logic by side stepping his way to the line leaving half the Boro side in his wake and on the ground scratching their heads in both wonder and admiration. Hayden converted his own try and this was shortly followed by another fine individual effort from the evergreen former captain Olly Akroyd who showed he still has a fine turn of pace in out sprinting all defensive challenges. Hayden was unsuccessful with the conversion but he was on the mark when he added the extras to the second try scored by James Wilson pouncing on a beautiful kick through from Martin Woodhead.
This was the most complete second half performance of the season, and duly acknowledged by the crowd which had been highly entertained by a confident and ruthless outfit and it will take a good side to knock them off the top spot as the season reaches the half way stage. The first challenge comes next Saturday with the visit to Rochdale and a hard challenge is expected from a team which also has aspirations of being in the mix at the end of the season. The festive trip over the hill will mark the start of seasonal festivities and the club is encouraging as many supporters as possible to travel on the team bus to encourage and support their team.