Alnwick 7 – 40 Cleckheaton

Cleckheaton headed up the A1 to Alnwick, the most northerly club playing in the English leagues. The 3 hour journey, to play a team fighting to ensure they stay out of the bottom three, could have represented a banana skin for Cleckheaton on their road towards potential league honours. With both Ben Thrower and Craig Blackburn carrying muscle strains, James Crowther was taken on the trip as nineteenth man. The decision proved wise as Blackburn pulled up in the warm up, handing Crowther a seat on the bench. Any fears of an upset were soon dispelled though when, in the opening 10 minutes, the power in attack and resolute defence, which has characterised Cleckheaton’s season, subjugated the Alnwick XV and set the visitors from Yorkshire on course for their fifteenth bonus point in seventeen games.

Richard Piper inevitably opened the scoring when he took a short ball from Jack Bickerdike at the back of a maul. With 15 metres to go and 3 defenders in the way, the indomitable No. 8 pumped his legs and powered his way over. Ross Hayden added the conversion. Matt Piper then followed his twin brother onto the score sheet when a disguised pass from stand-off Michael Piper just outside the 22, threaded the Centre through a gap in Alnwick’s defence. With a man in support and just the fullback to beat, Piper added some flourish with a deft dummy and went in under the sticks. Richard Piper then got his 24th try of the season when a catch and drive from a line-out close to Alnwick’s whitewash added to Cleckheaton’s account. Hayden converted both. Martin Woodhead rounded off the first 40 minutes gathering a cross-field kick from Mike Piper on the bounce and despite the attention of the opposition winger and fullback, he managed to stay on his feet and twist and turn in the tackle before falling over the line for Cleckheaton’s 4th of the afternoon. The conversion attempt drifted wide but Cleckheaton had worked their way into a 26-0 lead at the break.

Alnwick showed commendable spirit at the start of the second half and took the game to their visitors. Cleckheaton’s formidable defence was put to the test and appeared to rise to the challenge as the home side pressed and pressed but could not get points on the board. The persistence of Alnwick eventually paid off though when two successive quick penalties allowed their pack to work its way over the line and hooker, Sordy, was credited with the touchdown.

Cleckkheaton were not in the mood for allowing a come back and climbed through the gears again. Oliver Akroyd, predatory as ever on Alnwick’s line-out ball and Ryan Piercy also out jumping his opposite man, ensured that Cleckheaton regained the lion’s share of possession. Added to this, the fresh legs of Alex Dawson, Andy Piper and James Crowther on for Grant Turton, Chris Piper and Ben Thrower renewed the visitors’ enthusiasm and coupled with several sparkling carries from Rob Afoa-Peterson forced Alnwick on to the back foot. Ross Hayden very nearly added to the try tally but was held up short, before Alex Dawson hit a gap at pace and sprinted through to score under the sticks. With what turned out to be the last play of the game, James Wilson shook off a would-be Alnwick tackler, close to the line and strolled towards the uprights for Cleckheaton’s sixth try of the day. Hayden converted both to provide a final score of 40 – 7.

This was a competent, assured performance from the league leaders against an Alnwick side who showed resistance at times but were ultimately swept aside. Next week the team host Wheatley Hills at Moorend and will be looking for another good performance before the league programme takes a week off and makes way for the Yorkshire Cup.