Beverley 29 - 19 Cleckheaton

Beverley came back from the dead to gain this bonus point win against a Cleckheaton side which on the balance of play was the better outfit. All the early pressure came from the visitors and in the seventh minute Iain Gordon rewarded their enterprise with a penalty. With Richard Piper at his beligerent best Cleckheaton continued their dominance in all phases of play and Gordon extended the lead with another penalty. In the 24th minute Beverley made their first foray into Cleckheaton territory and from a lineout big prop Manu Kirkwood was driven over for a try which was unconverted. The visitors hit back almost immediately when Martin Woodhead was given the space to score a try out wide. Iain Gordon converted and five minutes later added a penalty to open up an eleven point lead. The half had been all Cleckheaton but as the interval approached and with Cleckheaton winger James Wilson in the sin bin, Beverley were given a lifeline when poor tackling allowed back row Dave Worrall to burst through for an individual try which was converted by Phil Duboulay. There was still time for Iain Gordon to strike another penalty before the break but Beverley had given warning of their ability to punish a side.

Cleckheaton had carried out their game plan almost to the letter in the first half with a dominant pack and Iain Gordon kicking into space to put Beverley under pressure. However, with Wilson still in the sin bin, Worrall once more showed his strength to score a try converted by Duboulay.The visitors began to panic under pressure for the first time in the match and this lack of composure was ultimately to prove their undoing. The style of play which was executed so effectively in the first half began to break down. As on two previous occasions this season a decent lead was slowly but surely being eroded. Doubts were entering the players' minds and the opposition reacted accordingly. With ten minutes remaining Duboulay put Beverley into the lead for the first time in the match with a penalty and as Cleckheaton strove to stem the onslaught, full back Richard Bussey went over for a try which Duboulay duly converted to give his side a victory which was very harsh on a Cleckheaton team which had more than matched their high ranking hosts. Left with not even a bonus point for their efforts the team can take some consolation from the fact that Beverley supporters rated them the best team they had watched this season.

Richard Piper was undoubtedly the man of the match and by some margin the best player on the field. His first movement was always forward and he was closely followed by the hard working Ryan Piercy, Steve Worsley and Iain Gordon who controlled play in the first half with his astute kicking into space. This is a talented outfit which just needs a bit of luck and more composure at vital times.