Cleckheaton 40 Malton & Norton 19

Cleckheaton welcomed Malton to Moorend this afternoon to complete the home programme and came away with an impressive victory.
Just one change in the starting XV, James Wilson started at full back with Jack Marshall on the left wing, Dom Flanagan was unavailable with the remainder of the team as last week's win at Scarborough. Archie Rika Rayne, Thiu Barnard and Tom Breakwell kept the bench warm on a breezy afternoon with frequent showers.
Cleckheaton looked sharp in the first couple of minutes, Richard Piper, Joe Flanagan and Ryan Piercy carried the ball upfield but the Referee saw an offence and Malton cleared to touch near the Cleckheaton 10 metre line. From the line out , Malton took uncontested ball and made 20 metres before the ball was shipped to the right wing who scored in the corner, conversion was missed 0-5 after 4 minutes.
Cleckheaton took the lead on 9 minutes , with Cleckheaton having penalty advantage got the ball to Richard Piper who got over the line for his 4th try of the season after being denied seconds earlier when he was held up over the try line, Dale Breakwell added the goal 7-5.
On 12 minutes, Cleckheaton added a second try after some magic down the right by Brambani and Marshall who cut inside and offloaded to Piercy who crossed near the posts for his 2nd try of the season, Breakwell added the goal 14-5. The next 20 minutes were very scrappy, very few scoring chances occurred apart from a Malton kick and chase which resulted in a goal line drop out and the ref having treatment from the physios before resuming the game.
On the stroke of half time Cleckheaton had a scrum on their own 22 and somehow the Malton scrum half got the ball and strolled over the line conversion was good and half time arrived with the score 14-12.
Play was mostly in the Cleckheaton half at the start of the second half but on 51 minutes a powerful break by Tom Hainsworth and support from Richard Piper gave a scoring pass to James Wilson who crossed for his first try of the season, Dale Breakwell added the goal and Cleckheaton had a bit of breathing space at 21-12. 7 minutes later the bonus point try was scored, Hainsworth caused havoc in midfield and gave the scoring pass to Joe Flanagan who romped over from 20 metres for his 4th try of the season, Dale Breakwell converted 28-12. It was a purple patch for Cleckheaton although the next try was somewhat controversial, Cleckheaton attacked down the left and the ball came free in contact and was kicked back towards the dead ball line, Ollie Depledge dived on the loose ball which looked to be over the dead ball line when he grounded the ball but the try was awarded and with Dale Breakwell adding the goal it was 35-12 on 63 minutes. Malton gained some ground with some crisp handling moves but some crushing tackles and Dale Breakwell launching two huge 50-22 kicks drove the visitors back. On 73 minutes , some brilliant handling in Cleckheaton's back line created a chance for Jack Marshall to cross on the left wing for his 17th try of the season, 40-12. Malton were down but certainly not out, they kept plugging away and eventually on 78 minutes the forced their way over the line for a third try , conversion was good, 40-19. Malton had designs on getting something out of the game in the final seconds , it looked as if the had a bonus point try of their own but the referee decided it was held up and the resulting drop out was put out of play to end the game.
Maximum points on the day, 9 wins out of 13 at home , only Ilkley , Heath , Pocklington and Brodlieans have tasted success at Moorend this season. Away from home , 9 wins and 3 defeats thus far,there is no game next Saturday as its the Easter Weekend , Cleckheaton complete their fixtures with a trip to Durham City on 23/4, kick off is at 3:00 pm.