West Leeds 11 – 28 Cleckheaton Kestrels

The Kestrels maintained their 100% away win record with a victory over West Leeds last Saturday.

Cleckheaton arrived at the opposition’s ground to learn that West Leeds did not have a full front row, so the game would be played with uncontested scrums throughout. Furthermore, the Leeds team’s 1st XV were also at home, so the match would have to take place at the club’s alternate field a mile or so away. These minor disruptions though annoying, are fairly insignificant in the greater scheme of things and this was pulled into sharp relief as both sides observed a minute’s silence in memory of Nigel Earnshaw.

The game got underway with the Kestrels’ kick off and West Leeds applied pressure from the outset. The home side were unlucky not to get an early try as their centre dropped the ball with the line beckoning. Leeds’ early territorial advantage did pay dividends soon afterwards though, with a penalty kick that put West Leeds 3 points in front.

Cleckheaton by this point had fully warmed up and responded after good work from the forwards with Piper and Mason taking the ball to the opposition at every opportunity and with the dynamic flank partnership of Bullen and Brook on hand to add their support. Scrambling defence from West Leeds led to a tap down and from the resulting scrum, skipper Neil Gillan picked up at No.8 and drove over the line from 10m out. Jarrad Toulson added the extras to give Cleckheaton a 7-3 lead.

West Leeds hit back with a second penalty to reduce the arrears to 7-6 and Craig Blackburn left the field at this point, with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that he picked up in the Frontier the previous weekend. Adam Stanley replacing him in the centre.

On the 25 minute mark the Kestrels extended their lead when Tom Brook collected a pass from Mark Fletcher at the back of a ruck and ran hard and straight to break through the opposition’s defensive line. With the posts still 40m away, Brook started on an angled run, which eventually beat West’s fullback and he was able to turn in and score under the sticks. Toulson once again adding the extras.

As half drew to a close the score remained unchanged with Cleck not fully in the clear at 14 – 6.

West Leeds started the 2nd forty in determined mood and for the next 20 minutes, Cleck could not seem to get out of their own half. West Leeds had many enterprising runs and both their flanker and their winger went close before either being tackled or bungled into touch.

As the half wore on Cleck’s lineout team of Motlib, Beasty and Holland started to guarantee ball and the Kestrels were able to barge or kick their way into the opposition half. From this territory, Cleck’s forward domination won yards from the back of rucks and with the backs screaming for the ball to exploit overlaps out on the right flank, the forwards kept it tight and Aiden Bullen wrestled his way over for the score. Toulson added the conversion to give the Kestrels a healthy 21- 6 lead.

Whilst Cleck thought about the fourth try bonus point, West Leeds thought about getting back into game. Good work and determination from the home side was eventually rewarded with a try out on Cleck’s left. The conversion was missed and with just under 10 minutes left the score had advanced to 21-11.

Another score by Leeds would have set pulses racing but instead it was the Kestrels that would have the last word. After more good work from the forwards carrying and recycling the ball on a number of occasions, it was fed across the field from left to right where Luke Bashforth was able to step outside the covering tackler and scored in the corner. Toulson maintained his 100% success rate with the boot and added the extra points to give a final score of 28-11

Coach Gordon Piper had to watch this one from outside the playing enclosure but was pleased with the progress the side is making. Next week the Kestrels will face a sterner test as they face unbeaten Leodensians at home.