Cleckheaton travelled to Heslam Park for the first time in several years and came away with a hard earned victory in their first game at Level 5 (Regional 1 North East).
In team news, some familiar faces from last seasons successful squad, Andy Piper at prop, Robin Bennett and Niall Jackson making up the front row, Plunkett and Barnard at lock, Joe Flanagan and Brad Marsden on the flanks with skipper Richard Piper at No.8. Depledge and Dale Breakwell at half back , Wilson and Dom Flanagan on the wings with Hainsworth and Hayward in the centres and the returning Bailey Smith at full back. Replacements were Ben Thrower, Tom Breakwell and Alex Dawson returning after a spell with Brodlieans.
Scunthorpe were well established as a Level 5 team and a tough game was expected.
Cleckheaton kicked off but Scunthorpe had the better of the early exchanges and on 8 minutes they took the lead with a 20 metre penalty. That lead was short lived as Breakwell restarted , the ball bounced awkwardly and Ollie Depledge gathered and scurried away to score under the posts, Breakwell adding the extras, 3-7. Breakwell added 2 more penalty goals on 13 and 18 minutes and Cleckheaton led 3-13.
Cleckheaton were solid in defence but were guilty of conceding penalties in kickable positions and in the next 10 minutes it was 3 penalties and 9 points conceded , 12-13. However, Breakwell slotted a 20 metre shot on 38 minutes before a 51 metre kick sailed over the bar on the stroke of half time, at the break Scunthorpe 12 Cleckheaton 19.
Scunthorpe came out after the break with a new sense of purpose carrying the ball strongly and making metres with some ease. Thrower replaced Bennett and he had a warning from the Referee for some off the ball play within seconds of entering the game. On 52 minutes, Scunthorpe spun the ball to their left and the winger crossed for their first try of the game, kick was wide 17-19. The game went into an end to end phase over the next 10 minutes but there was no further addition to the score. Dawson replaced Barnard and Tom Breakwell came on at scrum half as Cleckheaton shuffled the back line. On 67 minutes after a scrum on the Scunthorpe 22, a poor pass put the Scunthorpe backs under pressure and Hayward gathered to score next to the posts, Dale Breakwell kept up his 100% record on the day , 17-26.
Scunthorpe put Cleckheaton under enormous pressure with several close range drives, eventually the ball went left again and the Greens crossed wide out, conversion missed 22-26 on 75 minutes. Cleckheaton needed to hold on for a hard fought victory and the next 3 minutes they were holding on , Scunthorpe regained possession and attacked down the left but they only got to halfway before a knock on stopped their progress. There was still time for a scrum and Cleckheaton controlled the ball and got the ball out of play for a narrow and hard earned victory. Dale Breakwell with 6 kicks from 6 attempts for 16 points was the difference on the day.
Next week, Cleckheaton are at home to West Bridgford, first time visitors from Nottingham, kick off is at 3.00 pm.