Cleckheaton 17 Ilkley 21

Cleckheaton welcomed Ilkley to Moorend today for a mouthwatering clash with both teams locked together on 51 points for the season, albeit Ilkley having 2 games in hand. In team news, Tom Breakwell returned at full back after being out for a month, whilst Dom Flanagan moved to centre replacing Matty Piper.
Cleckheaton kicked off on a crisp afternoon and Dom Brambani caused some indecision in the visitors ranks when the kick evaded the defenders and went into touch deep inside the 22. Ilkley secured possession and drove downfield, their ability to recycle the ball quickly was very apparent as they pulled the defensive line left and right. Having most of the possession it came as no surprise when wing Harry Harrison scored on the right after quick ball from a line out on the opposite side of the field. Chukie Ramsay added the conversion 0-7 after 8 minutes. Cleckheaton did make the occasional visit into Ilkley territory but the visitors were dominant while Cleckheaton were guilty of coughing up possession in contact. Defensively, there was a massive effort by the entire team that kept the Ilkley attacks at bay, but midway through the first half Andy Piper had to leave the field with a suspected broken arm, Ben Thrower replaced him in the front row.
On 29 minutes after another spell of pressure, prop Nathan Hyde crashed over under the posts for Ramsay to add a simple goal 0-14.
Cleckheaton had shown little offence until the 39th minute when Tom Hainsworth burst through from deep to set up a good position , Ilkley infringed at the breakdown and Brambani whilst kicking for touch managed to find the deadball line and the chance was lost. Half time 0-14.
Cleckheaton needed to score early to get a foothold in the game, instead they gift wrapped a 3rd try on 44 minutes to Ilkley Number 8 Will Addyman. It was a real comedy of errors as Jack Seddon stole ball at the front of the line out, it bounced awkwardly away from Olly Depledge and first Josh Plunkett and then Joe Flanagan tried to smother the ball, both failed and Addyman touched down, Ramsay converted and it was 0-21.
Cleckheaton needed to show their mettle and on 53 minutes a break out by Hainsworth down the left wing looked to have given him a try but he was brought down short of the line but he popped an inside pass to Mikey Hayward for his 14 th try of the season. 5-21.
On 63 minutes , a penalty was kicked to touch , Marsden won the lineout and the maul rumbled forward in classic style, Rika Rayne, Plunkett and Joe Flanagan all contributed and with a penalty advantage to Cleckheaton, Plunkett switched to the blindside to crash over for his 3rd try, kick was narrowly wide 10 -21.
Cleckheaton had a spring in their step and it looked like the visitors were fading, Richard Piper carried and offloaded brilliantly all game, Joe Flanagan took the ball into contact and gaps were starting appear in the Ilkley ranks. On 73 minutes , Jack Marshall came off his left wing into midfield and ducked under a tackle and scampered across for his 11th try of the campaign , Tom Breakwell added to goal to set up a tense finale.
Cleckheaton probed for an opening but the league's meanest defence didn't yield and when Cleckheaton were penalised deep inside their 22, Ilkley cleared for touch to end the game.
Josh Plunkett worked tirelessly throughout the game and was home team M.o.M while Ilkley Number 8 Will Addyman took the pie back to Stacks Field as M.o.M.
Next week, another tough encounter looms, away at Old Brodlieans, kick off at 2.15.