Sheffield 13 – 11 Cleckheaton

Cleckheaton travelled to Abbeydale Park determined to improve the defensive effort that was on display in the corresponding home fixture in early September. In that game the men from South Yorkshire claimed a try scoring bonus point as part of their 34 - 5 victory. This game was to be a very different affair and whilst the Moorenders only scored the one try, as in the first game, their defence was rock solid for all but 20 seconds when Sheffield slipped in for their solitary try. Sheffield had the lion’s share of the possession and territory and pressurised Cleckheaton from the outset. A missed shot at goal was all that the home side had to show for this as Cleckheaton worked hard to repel the onslaught before making some determined forays into the Sheffield half. Neither side could break down the other’s defence and play became fractured and fractious at times with Chris Piper and Sheffield tight head Ramzey Adamo, both spending 10 minutes in the cooler.

Iain Gordon put Cleckheaton in the lead with a well struck penalty goal and whilst Ollie Akroyd challenged for and won a couple of the opposition’s lineouts in their 22, Cleck got very few other scoring opportunities in the first half. The visitors retained their 3 point advantage until two minutes before half time when Sheffield kicked their way up field courtesy of a string of penalties and set up a strong position from which to attack. Cleckheaton were manful in their defence and just as it looked like the wall would not be broken, a hand-off from centre Chris Dale, unlocked the line enough for him to dive through for a try. Pearson converted and at half time the score line read 7 - 4.

The second period continued much like the first, with defences on top and the play punctuated by infringements and the trill of the referee’s whistle. Both sides had the opportunity to go for goal and Sheffield were successful twice with another penalty goal from Iain Gordon sandwiched in between. With the score now 13 – 6 and 15 minutes left on the clock, Cleckheaton were definitely still in touch. As the game wore on the Moorender’s determination to try and get more than a losing bonus point out of the game drove them forward. A clean catch and drive just inside the opposition 22 set up a rolling maul from which it appeared inevitable that a trademark Richard Piper try would follow. To credit Sheffield they managed to stop this drive but Robin Bennett was on hand to gather the ball and spin in the opposite direction to wriggle his way over the line. With the game now in injury time Iain Gordon lined up his conversion attempt knowing that success would level the scores. Agonisingly for the visitors, the kick drifted to the left of the upright and the referee brought matters to a close.

There is no 1st XV game on Saturday as Cleckheaton will put out a full strength side against Old Brodleians in our traditional Boxing Day fixture, which is over in Hipperholme this year. We would like to wish all our supporters and followers a very happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you over the festive period or when we return to League action on the Jan 5th 2013, when Old Crossleyans visit Moorend for another exciting local derby.