Cleckheaton impressed in a 31-5 victory over fellow strugglers York, giving Cleck their first win of the season and a very welcome 5 points.
A minutes silence was observed to mark armistice day before the game got underway on a mild and sunny November afternoon. Cleck started brightly and got on the scoreboard in the first 5 minutes after a targeted kick from Fullback, Dom Brambani, was gathered by Jack Marshall and he wrestled his way over the whitewash for his 7th try of the season. Dale Breakwell added the conversion from near the touch line for a 7-0 lead. York made progress down the field and enjoyed some time camped in Cleck’s third of the pitch. Their efforts were all repelled with some crunching tackles. Newcomers to the squad, Owen Hughes and Mo Kamano, were able to display their solid defensive capabilities and along with the whole team created an impenetrable wall.

Cleck were dominating possession again and after a high tackle 25 metres out, Breakwell slotted a penalty goal to extend the lead to 10-0. The Lambs went close again when Marshall popped up on the right wing with Hayward on his shoulder. The pass didn’t quite go to hand and the chance was lost. On 34 minutes Brambani set Marshall free but York’s defence managed to hold him short of the line and from the ruck, Kamano was also stopped a fraction out. Cleck would not be denied and Josh Plunkett picked up for the 3rd wave and got the ball over the line. Breakwell converted to improve Cleck’s lead to 17-0. On the stroke of half time, as it looked like Marshall may now be going in for his second try, the pass to him was intercepted. The Cleck faithful had their hearts in their mouths momentarily, but the York winger opted to kick the ball downfield and it went straight into touch, summing up York’s first half.

After the change of ends, Cleckheaton were fastest out of the blocks and a move down the left was again stopped short but Cleck were awarded a penalty. A quick tap and fast hands moved the ball rightwards and Brambani strolled in for a try. To the delight of the crowd, he added his Robin Hood celebration for the first time this season. Breakwell obliged with the extras to give Cleck a commanding 24-0 lead.

York got some possession, aided by a series of penalties and eventually they crossed for a try from a maul close to the line. Cleckheaton sealed the bonus point on 73 minutes with a spectacular try which started from within Cleck’s own half. Following a line out, Cleckheaton bashed the ball into York’s defence. Prop Andy Piper, In a highly intricate move, looked as if he was about to drop the ball but gathered it just before it hit the deck. With York distracted, at the same time he told fellow front rower, Archie Rika-Rayne, to set off running as fast as he could towards Greggs at the bottom of the pitch. Rika-Rayne didn’t know why at the time but would never turn down such an instruction. In the meantime the ball was cleared from the ruck and found its way into the hands of Breakwell, who dabbed over a delicate cross field kick, which was caught by Marshall on the opposition 10 metre line. The winger evaded one tackle before off-loading to Brambani, who was stopped on the 22 by York’s fullback, their last defender. At that exact moment, Rika-Rayne realised the ploy to get him running at full trundle speed in that direction and was on hand to take the offload from Brambani and run in the 20 plus metres to the try line. The home crowd were delighted and it was a perfect way to seal the bonus point win!

Some great performances today as Cleckheaton kick start their season. We still remain at the foot of the table but within touching distance of the 4 sides above. A rest day this coming weekend then it’s Kendal away on 22nd Nov. A repeat of this display will surely bring a nice points haul back to West Yorkshire.