With the league title already in the bag and a third of this season’s regular first team squad on a stag weekend in Dublin, Cleckheaton thought they might have their work cut out against Malton & Norton. The team from North Yorkshire were already unable to lift themselves out of relegation but a win could have seen them avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon as the league’s bottom club. Six regular first teamers out meant half a dozen opportunities for other players to claim a place and Gareth Lamb, Craig Blackburn, Josh White, Jack Seddon, Robin Bennett and Naz Salama were included in the side in place of Matt Piper, Michael Piper, Richard Piper, Andy Piper, Grant Turton and Ryan Piercy. Veteran Jarrad Toulson was also called into the starting line up to replace the injured Ollie Depledge.

Malton & Norton scored first with a breakaway try as Cleckheaton were pressing in Malt’s territory. Quick hands along the back line released centre Kenton Lieataua in his own 22 and he put the accelerator flat to the floor, outpacing all defenders for a long range try. The conversion was added to put Cleckheaton 7-0 in arrears. Any thoughts that the Moorenders may see the end of the season fizzle away were soon expelled as the home side hit back within minutes. Adventurous handling by Ross Hayden, James Marshall and James Wilson took play close to Malton’s line, from where Josh White gathered at the back of the ruck and forced his way over. Ross Hayden added the extras to level the scores.

Rob Afoa-Peterson took up the Number 8 slot in the absence of Richard Piper and led the forwards from the front, brushing defenders aside on numerous occasions and then having the handling skills to put his supporting players into space. This combination of attributes led to James Wilson running in from 20 metres for Cleckheaton’s second try. Alex Dawson, who would play for the victorious Yorkshire U20’s team the following day, was next on the score sheet when he went in for the first of his two tries, crashing through would be defenders close to the line. Cleckheaton’s 4th and bonus point try came just after the half hour mark, when Alex Dawson again made headway, clearing through all but one Malton player and off-loaded to James Wilson who made it to the line with the remaining man clinging despairingly to his back. Ross Hayden converted both tries. With half time fast approaching, Malton tried the tactic of chipping over Cleckheaton’s defence and charging through. Jack Bickerdike had read the play and ran back into his own 22, scooping the ball up in one hand and kicking back over the heads of the on rushing players. With the Malton fullback at 6’s and 7’s, the wiley scrum half managed to gather his own kick and feed Ross Hayden who sprinted in without chase for another Cleckheaton try. The fullback converted to give Cleckheaton a 35-7 half time lead.

The second forty minutes followed a very similar pattern to the first. Afoa-Peterson proving too strong to handle, released Robin Bennett who drew the defence and passed back inside for Bickerdike to go under the sticks. Josh White then belied his 19 years of age, when he old-manned the opposition scrum half as the ball came out of the back of a Malton scrum, pick-pocketing the disgruntled No.9 and racing in for Cleck’s 7th. Malton hit back with a converted try when Rob Afoa-Peterson was sent to the sin bin but Cleckheaton were not content with their haul and troubled the scorer further when Alex Dawson went in for his second of the afternoon to bring the 50 points up for Cleckheaton and then Jack Seddon latched on to a pass from Paul Turner after Jarrad Toulson had gone close for Cleckheaton’s last try of the day. Ross Hayden converted all the second half tries to give him a 100% record with the boot. Malton finished proceedings with a consolation try in the dying seconds of the game which was converted by Ian Cooke to also give him a perfect kicking record.

Cleckheaton finished the season in style with their biggest points haul of the year and Mick Collins of B&M Collins Butchers presented a huge celebratory pork pie, which was almost too heavy for one person to lift, with the words CRUFC – Champions baked into the crust. As the feast settled Cleckheaton’s attention now turns to planning for life in National League 3. The Kestrels, featuring a host of Colts players, also had a convincing over Malton’s 2nd team away in North Yorkshire, as they won their penultimate Merit League game of the season 40-7. This has been a fantastic year for the club as a whole, with 4 senior sides playing almost every weekend a fixture has been available. The 1st XV have won the title and the 2nds and 3rds have also excelled in their Yorkshire Merit Leagues finishing 4th and 3rd respectively and it is testament to the players, coaches, committee members, sponsors, volunteers and other supporters who have put in the hard work to deliver this success.