Cleckheaton’s struggles continued against Ilkley at Moorend , but the final score didn’t reflect what was an entertaining game.
Cleckheaton welcomed Tom Hainsworth back to action after a year out of the game with a serious Achilles injury.
The game got off to an explosive start, Cleckheaton won a penalty on their own 10 metre line and from possession won at the line out the ball was moved left before an inside pass found Hainsworth 30 metres out , he powered through a couple of tackles to score under the posts for a perfect start on 3 minutes, Dale Breakwell added the goal and Cleckheaton led 7-0. Ilkley applied some pressure and opened their account with a 25 metre penalty from Charles Morgan on 12 minutes, 7-3. On 16 minutes ,Ilkley got a fortunate try when a dropped ball on halfway bounced perfectly for centre Louis Anderson to stroll in unopposed, Morgan added the extras and Ilkley took the lead 7-10. Cleckheaton won turnover ball inside the 22 and Brambani’s attempted clearance was charged down and Anderson was again on hand to collect the loose ball to record his second try of the game, Morgan converted and Ilkley were 7-17 ahead on 25 minutes. Breakwell added a penalty on 30 minutes 10-17. Cleckheaton drove the ball forward but didn’t have much possession and the scrum was under pressure and penalties were being conceded. As the first half was winding down , Ilkley took a maul some 10 metres from the try line and when Sam Shepherd was deemed to have collapsed the maul and a penalty try was awarded and Shepherd was sent to the sin bin, 10-24 at half time.
Early in the second half, Breakwell added a second penalty goal to reduce the lead to 13-24 before Morgan tacked on another penalty to restore Ilkley’s 14 point lead at 13-27. On 55 minutes , Ilkley got the bonus point try with a simple try from a line out , possession was secured and the Ilkley second row peeled around the front of the line out to score, Morgan again adding the goal 13-34. Cleckheaton were next on the scoreboard , a trademark crossfield kick from Breakwell was reeled in by the right wing who was tackled but produced a sensational offload for Joe Pearson to cross for a try , Breakwell with the goal to take the score to 20-34 on 60 minutes. More indiscipline and Morgan added another penalty from in front of the posts 20-37. Cleckheaton drove back down the field and with a classic catch and drive maul after a line out , the pack got over the line, Marsden and Sowden were the last to rise , but the try was awarded and Breakwell agonisingly struck the post with the conversion 25-37. Ilkley got their 5th try in the 80th minute when Anderson jumped to secure a high kick and he completed his hat trick , Morgan adding the conversion, final score 25-44. Morgan was awarded the MoM for Ilkley with Shepherd taking the honours for Cleckheaton. No game next week, next action on 28/2 away at York.