Cleckheaton went into this game after a week off and having claimed a bonus point victory away at Middlesborough in their previous match. A contest against the students of Northumbria University, seemingly this year's 'easy beats' of North One, looked on paper to be a simple result to predict. However, the young men from Newcastle had not read the script and in the last minute of the game added to the continuation of Cleckheaton's inconsistent season.

The visitors started well and were rewarded with some early forays into Cleckheaton's 22 but robust defence from the home side thwarted any chance of them opening the scoring. Cleck had a strong wind in their favour and following Team Northumbria's bright start, the home side went on to dominate both territory and possession. The obvious speed of the younger students was no match for the superior strength of the Cleckheaton team and the upper hand in the contact area gave the home side a number of opportunities to attack the whitewash. Winger James Wilson went in for the first try following a jinking run, after some excellent passing and support from Richard Piper and Craig Blackburn. Iain Gordon added the extras to give Cleck a 7-0 lead.

From the re-start Cleckheaton continued with their Forward power and a rolling maul resulted in a try for Richard Piper. The conversion drifted narrowly wide. Strong defence from the home side continued to dispel any possibility of a try for the visitors and Ed Chappelow added to their woe when he steered a catch and drive from a line out into the goal area for an unconverted try. A couple of additional chances and half chances came Cleckheaton's way in the remaining 15 minutes of the half but the score remained 17-0 at the break.

The game was proceeding in line with predictions and the home side were cruising towards another 5 points. Unfortunately no side in this league can rest on their laurels and should the top side only play to 90% of its capability, the bottom side will beat it. Whilst Team Northumbria didn't come away from West Yorkshire with a win, the atmosphere at Moorend at the end of the next 40 minutes, felt very much like a Cleckheaton loss. A combination of poor tactical awareness and execution from the home side and good basic rugby from the students slowly but surely closed the deficit in the scoreline.

With nothing to lose, the visitors threw the ball around in hope more than anticipation and were rewarded with a break up their right hand side. Having speed to burn, the centre and winger combined for Team Northumbria's opening try. The result of the match did still not seem in any doubt at this point but nerves tightened when the visitor's scrum half dabbed through a speculative kick, which bounced nicely back into his hands for another unconverted try. This reduced the arrears to just seven points and put Team Northumbria within striking distance. Cleckheaton could not find the forward rhythm they used to dominate the first half and kicks into the wind gained very little territory for the Moorenders. As frustration grew, the homeside conceded several penalties, culminating in the sin-binning of Ben Thrower with around 5 minutes to go. With time up, the visitors launched one final effort and were justly rewarded with a try under the sticks. The conversion from directly in front of the posts earned Team Northumbria a draw and cemented the disappointment of the entire Cleckheaton crowd.

After the game coach Dave Harrison, equally disappointed, gave the team the rounds of the kitchen. This was not a second half of rugby that many will want to remember but at the same time, should be an experience the players never forget.