Cleckheaton 78 Bradford & Bingley 8

Cleckheaton welcomed Bradford & Bingley to Moorend for the first time since 2018 and came away with the biggest win in many years against a gallant but outgunned young team, running in 12 tries in the process.

Cleckheaton had a settled team, playing for the first time in 3 weeks with Dom Howarth, Ryan Piercy and Niall Jackson filling the bench.
Cleckheaton got off to a flying start winning possession from a line out through Bradley Marsden and carried on by skipper Richard Piper who crossed for his 3rd try of the season, improved by Dale Breakwell 7-0 on 4 minutes. On 8 minutes , Cleckheaton conceded a penalty 20 metres out and Bees kicked the goal 7-3. The second try wasn't long in coming, Brambani taking the final pass to score his 5th try of the season , goaled by Breakwell 14-3. The scoring continued when flanker Joe Flanagan sliced through the defense for his 2nd try of the season, again goaled by Breakwell 21-3 on 16 minutes.

Bees were already looking very dispirited. by this early onslaught and it didn't get any better for them with 3 tries in 8 minutes , firstly from Tom Hainsworth who blasted through the defence down the left wing to score a try, goaled by Breakwell then 3 minutes later Jack Marshall got away down the right wing to score under the posts, goaled by Breakwell 35-3 and then Hainsworth got his second of the game and 10th of the season with another powerful run down the left centre channel, Breakwell struck the post with the conversion attempt 40-3 on 28 minutes .

The scoreboard barely had chance to catch up before Don Flanagan scampered clear of Bees beleaguered defence for his 9th try of the season , Breakwell added the goal 47-3 . There was a defensive miscue on Cleckheaton's right flank and Bees left wing swooped to score his teams only try of the game, 47-8 before Hainsworth completed his hat trick with his 11th try of the season as half time approached, Breakwell goaled and it was 54-8 at half time with Cleckheaton having scored 8 tries in a sparkling display of power and pace.

Niall Jackson replaced Will Denham and Ryan Piercy came on for Thiu Barnard. Josh Plunkett got on the scoresheet 2 minutes after the restart , Breakwell was successful with the conversion 61-8. The next score went to hooker Archie Rika Rayne who gathered at the front of a line out to score his 2nd try of the season , Breakwell required treatment for cramp before adding the goal 68-8. On 60 minutes the game had to go to uncontested scrums after Bees lost their replacement front row forward. Jack Marshall was next to score with his second of the game , Brambani missed the conversion to the left of the posts 73-8.

The final score went to Dom Brambani after good work by Plunkett and Rika Rayne , Breakwell who had returned to the game as a blood replacement for Joe Flanagan missed the kick to make the final score 78-8.
Tom Hainsworth got the MoM pie for his 3 try performance and he was awarded his 1st XV tie for his 20th appearance along with Archie Rika Rayne who also got his 20 game tie.

Bees didn't stop trying and had the better of the possession in final quarter without adding to their points tally.

Next week, Cleckheaton who now occupy 4th place in the league after Brodleians were defeated by Driffield, travel to Morley for a tasty local derby, kick off is at 3.00.