Cleckheaton 29 - 5 Middlesborough

Undefeated in 2013 Cleckheaton started this game with a bang. After only five minutes play stand-off, Iain Gordon, sliced through the Middlesbrough defence to put fullback Ross Hayden in at the corner, Gordon converting. The home side continued the pressure from the re-start, powerful centre Lee Queeley burst through the mid-field and provided a superb one handed pass out of the back of his hand to set winger James Wilson free to cut in back against the drift defence and score the second try. The game was starting to look one-sided but relegation threatened Middlesbrough had other ideas and made Cleck pay for some over ambitious play and poor relieving kicks in their own half, by pressurising the Cleck line, resulting in a close range try from Richard Lonsdale, which was converted by Jack Bircham.

For the next 20 minutes Boro remained in the driving seat as The home side were inexplicably indecisive in defence and couldn’t find a way out of their own half. Eventually, with half time fast approaching, that man Queeley burst through again, well supported by several others and Jack Bickerdike took the final pass to score near the posts. Gordon’s kick was successful taking the half time score to 19 -7.

Cleckheaton now had the breeze at their backs but Boro upped their game yet again and managed to keep the Moorenders in their own half for most of the third quarter. The home team finally got its kicking game together and started to pin Boro into the corners putting pressure on their line. The visitors defended manfully against a sustained period of close quarter attacks but when Cleck spread the ball wide, Hayden again entered the line and with two audacious side steps, scored his second try of the afternoon half way out. Gordon’s attempted conversion hit the post. This score was soon followed by an opportunity for Cleck to utilise their well rehearsed catch and drive routine and the seemingly inevitable try was attributed to the driver, No.8 Richard Piper who maintains his challenge for the Leagues Top Try Scorer (Rugby Round Up Stats).

With a final score of 29 - 7 Cleckheaton picked up another five points and took their winning run to eight on the trot. Whilst other results meant that Cleckheaton still remain in fifth spot, the gap between them and the other three sides vying for second place behind runaway leaders Beverley, remains tantalisingly close.