Cleckheaton put in a courageous performance against Wharfedale on Wednesday evening. To a man the team put their bodies on the line in the face of a speedy and forceful attack from the National one team.

Ross Hayden put the Cleckheaton into an early lead with a penalty goal following a line-out turnover from Ollie Akroyd but from the restart the catch was fumbled, Wharfedale took advantage and went under the sticks through Centre Cammy Hudson. Hayden brought the home side within a point with another penalty goal but then a long kick downfield found Wharfedale's fullback facing a broken defensive line and between them, the Wharfedale three-quarter line had the pace and guile to go through under the sticks via Max Bell. Michael Piper had to leave the field when an initial suspected torn sock turned into a full blown hamstring tear, meaning Hayden had to switch to stand off and Craig Blackburn came onto the field at fullback. Ian Armitage switched the bodies round to maintain Cleckheaton's tempo with Ben Thrower coming on for James Crowther and Ollie Akroyd being replaced by Tom Hanson. Cleckheaton's forwards took the game to Wharfedale with Richard Piper, Alex Dawson and Jack Seddon making inroads. Eventually The visitors committed an infringement giving Hayden a third shot at goal on the 39th minute. The points were added and at the break Cleckheaton trailed narrowly 14-9

And initial onslaught by Wharfedale after the interval was excellently defended and Cleckheaton slowly made their way back up field. A good kick through was chased down by Martin Woodhead who pressured Wharfedale's winger into kicking the ball out deep within their territory. From the line-out Richard Piper controlled the driving maul and got within 3 inches himself before Richard Brown picked up the ball and forced his way over for a Cleckheaton try. The conversion was missed but the scores were now level.

Cleckheaton worked their way down field once again and put immense pressure on Wharfedale. After several attempts to get over the white wash the ball was passed back to Matt Piper who slotted over a drop goal from right in front of the sticks and Cleckheaton had taken a 17-14 lead. Though nerves were jangling, the crowd from both sides had been treated to quite a contest. The National one side showed their greater experience at playing games of this tempo and intensity though and just as the game entered the last quarter Wharfedale posted the first of three tries in quick succession to give them one hand on a place in the final. Cleckheaton were not done however and would not lay down, working their way once again into Wharfedale's 22, where a successful lineout drill was expertly controlled at the back by Rich Piper and his forward pack formed into a very strong driving maul that would not be resisted. The score line had moved on to 35-24, which would have been a fair finish but Wharfedale had the last say with a long range try against a tiring defence.

Cleckheaton eventually went out of the Yorkshire cup at the semi-final stage but they did so with their heads held high.