Cleckheaton put in a command performance to starve Beverley of possession and take the points from the league leaders at Moorend last weekend. It was a display that coaches David Harrison and Ian Armitage will be duly proud of, as will the entire team for executing the game plan to perfection and showing a defensive commitment to rival anyone.

Cleckheaton applied pressure on the visitors from the outset and went close in the first 5 minutes when Paul Turner spotted that the ball had come out of the back of a ruck and toe-poked it downfield. Martin Woodhead won the foot race and hacked on again but the ball skipped off the surface and agonizingly ran dead. Beverley's usually potent back-line attack were being rendered harmless in possession by Matt Piper and Lee Queeley, who absorbed anything that came through the centre. At the same time Ollie Akroyd was demonstrating his dynamic jumping ability in the line-out, disrupting Beverley’s set-piece and putting their hooker under immense pressure. It was from such a line-out, adjudged not straight, that Cleckheaton got their first try. The resulting scrum just inside the opposition's 22m, gave Iain Gordon the ball in space and he showed an inside pass before putting Matt Piper through a gap for the Centre to gallop in for a converted try. Beverley responded with vigour throwing their heavyweight forwards at Cleckheaton's defence but steely commitment from Andy Piper, Grant Turton and Ryan Piercy ensured they didn't gain much ground. Beverley often ran out of options and were left to boot the ball upfield, which proved meat and drink for Cleck fullback Ross Hayden. Cleckheaton were now playing solid, possession rugby and made a telling in-road into Beverley’s half when Akroyd popped a short ball to fellow back rower Naz Salama, who powered through a couple of would-be tackles to reach the opposition 22. With Cleckheaton on the front foot Beverley would not release the tackled player and a penalty gave Cleckheaton a line-out 5m from the try line. Hooker Ben Thrower found his man and a well practiced catch and drive resulted in the almost customary try for Richard Piper. The conversion was missed and the score at the interval was 12-0.

Lee Queeley was sin-binned shortly into the second period for not rolling away from the tackle and Beverley got their first points on the board from the associated penalty. Cleckheaton were still down to 14 men when they were camped on Beverley's line looking likely to score but a loose pass bounced onto the ground and was intercepted by Beverley fullback Lee Birch, who raced 90m for his team's first try. The conversion attempt went wide. Any thoughts of Beverley over turning Cleckheaton’s advantage were dismissed as soon as Cleck were restored to a full complement. They once again got into touching distance of Beverley's line with controlled forward drives and then two long passes from Jack Bickerdike and Man of the Match, Matt Piper, propelled the ball across the field where James Wilson was waiting wide on the wing to go in unopposed. Iain Gordon was sublime with the touchline conversion putting Cleckheaton 19-8 ahead. Cleckheaton extended their lead with a penalty goal from Gordon, which hit the top of the cross bar from 45m out before dropping over for the 3 points. With time running out and all but the 3 substitutes of Robin Bennett, Chris Piper and Craig Blackburn, naturally feeling the fatigue of their defensive effort, Beverley went in for a consolation try. The conversion attempt was the last action of the day and if successful would have netted a Beverley a losing bonus point but it drifted wide and the team and their friendly supporters travelled back to East Yorkshire empty handed.

This was an excellent team performance by Cleckheaton and elevated them one place up the league table. If they can reproduce this form for the rest of the season then they will surely climb even higher and challenge for honours in the Yorkshire Cup. A stout test of this resolve will take place next weekend, when the team make the short trip along the M62 to face Morley at Scatcherd Lane.