Cleckheaton 30 - 14 Morley

Cleckheaton were full value for this bonus point win against their local rivals, skipper Richard Piper leading the way with another hat-trick of tries. The early pressure came from the visitors and Cleckheaton had to be defensively sound to keep out a series of attacks. Cleck were to concede relatively few penalties in this game, a key factor that would enable them to maintain pressure in a way that they haven't been able to in some outings this year. They did, however, give Morley an early shot at goal but former Moorender, Simon Bradshaw, pulled the ball wide. The homeside hit the front in the twentieth minute when winger James Marshall finished off an excellent move with a try in the right hand corner, which was converted expertly by Iain Gordon. The Cleckheaton forwards were gradually gaining control, Oliver Akroyd winning a plentiful supply of lineout ball and from one such set piece Richard Piper finished off a rolling maul with his first try of the afternoon. Gordon narrowly missed the conversion. Ross Hayden was then deliberately blocked when he chipped and chased a kick resulting in Morley's No.8, Costello, being sent to the sin bin. From the resulting penalty and line-out, Richard Piper again latched on to another dominant driving maul to extend the lead to seventeen points at the break.

Cleckheaton continued their ascendancy at the start of the second half with Richard Piper completing his hat-trick after the Cleck pack did well to stay on their feet and keep a maul driving forward and Piper twisted through the last line of defence. This time Iain Gordon was successful with the conversion and Cleck were 24-0 up and had a try scoring bonus point in the bag. Gordon then twisted the knife even further with a well struck drop goal, but much to their credit Morley did not give up and threw caution to the wind with expansive play, which was rewarded with a try from their man of the match, full back Mark Cooke. Bradshaw added the conversion. Iain Gordon completed a good afternoon for the talented Cleckheaton side with another penalty before Morley got a consolation try following some strong running and good support play from the visitors against a tiring Cleckheaton defence.

This was a hard working, determined performance by Cleckheaton, which included a forthright defence, with stand out tackles coming in from Paul Turner and Johnno Marshall. The Moorenders will hope to be able to transport this form with them as they hit the road for the next two games, travelling to Middlesborough and Durham, before returning to Moorend to play Harrogate in the Yorkshire Cup on 10th November.