Dinnington 15 – 14 Cleckheaton Ketsrels

After 6 weeks without a game the Kestrels re-started their season with a friendly away at Dinnington. The old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder proved true, as the Kestrels had plenty of players to choose from and travelled to South Yorkshire with 5 subs. Unfortunately a late try by Dinnington coupled with a missed penalty attempt from Cleck in the dying minutes, meant the first win of 2010 will have to be postponed until next week.

The attendance at Thursday night training by nearly all of the Kestrels players produced dividends, as both of the Kestrel tries came off well worked line-out moves. The first, on the 20 minute mark, followed a line out 10 metres from the opposition line. Nathan Clayton drove the ball within inches of the whitewash in the right hand corner flag and then quick recycling saw the ball go all the way along the back line, before Craig Blackburn put Connor Davis in for a try wide on the left. James Wilson added the extras.

Unfortunately a knock on by Cleck from the re-start and an ensuing penalty gave Dinnington easy field position. After trying to dent the Kestrels defence with several strong runs, the home side settled for 3 points with a penalty kick under the sticks. Cleck responded fairly quickly when another line-out close to the Dinnington line was converted to points as Nathan Clayton popped a short pass to Max Sowden, who dived over in the corner. James Wilson came up with an excellent strike to convert from the touch line. With the score at 14 – 3 Cleckheaton looked in command as the half drew to a close. However, Dinnington had far from given up and their efforts were rewarded with a push over try a minute from time. The conversion was missed and at the whistle the scoreboard read 14 – 8 to the visitors.

The Kestrels started brightly in the 2nd half but could not cross the line. Dinnington also had spells of pressure but could not break the manful Cleck defensive. The deadlock was nearly broken 25 minutes into the 2nd period when James Wilson kicked through a loose ball but could not fully regather and a 7 pointer turned into a knock-on over the line. Dinnington then struck, what was the decisive blow with a score under the sticks with 10 minutes left on the clock. The resultant conversion took them into the lead for the first time. Cleckheaton looked to have sealed a victory when they were awarded a penalty, in range of the sticks, with 2 minutes on the clock but agonizingly, the attempt drifted wide. The Kestrels kept on battling from the drop out but Dinnington managed to hold on for the remaining 120 seconds of the match for a 15 – 14 victory.

There were some encouraging signs in this game and the numbers of players at training was also very pleasing. If the lads can encourage each other to keep this up then the whole team will be rewarded with a string of victories.