The Cleckheaton contingent made a flying start in their international fixture against Czech Stars XV. Returning to the same ground at RC Praga Praha, that they played at 22 years ago in 2001. Half a dozen of the tourists from that team a generation ago, made the return trip but only 2 of those could remember it - as we approached from a different direction and they couldn’t remember where they were the previous night, never mind 22 years ago!

Dom Brambani opened the scoring for Cleck in less than 5 minutes, after a break from Tom Hainsworth and a neat pass back inside, which put the stand-off in under the sticks. Brambani, with the evening sun now glinting off his head, also drop-kicked the extras. Wade Laycock was next to score and was put into space by good handling from the backs, enabling the flanker to waddle in from 20m for a well taken try.

Less than 15 mins into the game, Hainsworth, who would go on to deservedly claim the McFly Man of the Match award, scored Cleck’s next try. The outside centre took the ball in midfield and burst through the line before racing away to the whitewash. This was the third try of the day for Cleck and the first of 3 that Hainsworth would go on to register himself. A hat-trick on tour is great for the score line but harsh on the wallet, as it was deemed a blatant act of showing off! Especially as this was an evening kick off and the side were a little tired from all the sight-seeing they had done during the day.

Hainsworth went in for his second a few minutes later, in a similar vein to his first, scooping up a pass out of the back door and proving too fast for the opposition. Brambani converted both of Hainsworth’s tries to put Cleckheaton into a runaway, 26-0, lead.

The tourists showed signs of fatigue as the game reached the 25 minute mark. Brambani failed to find touch from a penalty on 2 consecutive occasions and captain, James Wilson, was disgruntled. He decided to take on the touch finding duties himself and on the next penalty, punted the ball directly into the opposition fullback’s bread basket!. The Czech Stars were growing in confidence as they started to take the game to Cleckheaton and were given a further boost as they saw Miles Nicholson and Nathan Page enter the fray. There is no proof of any connection between these two events, but the Czechs did go on to score 2 minutes later.

Not long after their first try, the Czech Stars attacked again with a long kick down field, Michael Piper at fullback played the wily old bull, he shaped to kick, before stepping left and then right, with a view to wrong footing the two opposition players racing towards him. It fooled neither of them and he got what could be best described as a double body Czech! Despite this, great line defence from Joe Flanigan, Niall Jackson, Robin Bennett, Matty Piper and Josh Plunkett withstood the pressure and Nick Wagstaff, coming on from the bench, managed to tangle his whole body into the feet of the opposition attacker to thwart their onslaught. The Czech XV eventually knocked on. Cleck looked to break from the ensuing scrum when Brad Marsden found himself in space. The No. 8, glanced upwards and saw he had 80m to go, so tried to pass as soon as humanly possible. He found Adam Stanley who booted the ball up field to clear the lines. Just as the half came to a close, the home side got in for their second try to bring the scoreboard to 26-10 at the interval.

Cleck changed a few personnel at half time with Ian Webb coming on for Jonjo Pearson, who was taking a well earned rest after breaking into a trot more than 3 times. Ryan Piercy also took to the field exactly a week after announcing his retirement from rugby at the club dinner. Last but not least, Richard Piper and Jack Seddon entered the fray for their first games in far too long. They were met with rapturous applause, partly because it meant the latter was highly likely to get a shower and change his underwear before the night out.

It wasn’t long before these 2 players made their mark. Seddon made a nice break up centre field but couldn’t quite get the pass around the back of the opposition player to find the supporting Lewis Beasty. Whilst Piper imposed himself on the large opposition forwards with big Dickie putting in some big hits. Archie Rika-Rayne also but a big hit in to stop early advances from the Czech stars in the second half. Cleck started the scoreboard ticking over again when Seddon trotted down the far touchline and passed inside to Wilson, for the scrum half to get on the score sheet. With Brambani off the field, Michael Piper dropped kicked the conversion attempt from wide out and unbelievably hit the horizontal woodwork. No additional points for Cleck but one up in the crossbar challenge!

With ten minutes to play the last two players took the field from the bench, with the very experienced Richard Simpson and Andy Womersley joining the action. Simpson, in his late 50’s, immediately showed he has still got it, by looking in one direction, whilst passing in the other.

The game was rounded off with Hainsworth’s hat-trick, coming onto a short ball just inside the 22, the Cleck player and man of the match, celebrated his 3rd try with an Aussie bellyflop as he crossed the white wash under the sticks. Brambani added the conversion to bring the final score to Cleckheaton 38 – 10 Czech Stars!

Cleckheaton celebrated afterwards with the very kind hospitality of our hosts. A Cleckheaton RUFC plaque was presented to the Czech Stars and items of specially purchased badged clothing were exchanged. The touring party went on to serenade the home supporters with a rendition of Jerusalem and Swing Low Sweet Chariot and a good night was had by all.