Cleckheaton travelled to Stacks Field for a mouthwatering clash with table toppers Ilkley.
There was just one change from last week's starting XV, Joey Carley made a first start of the season replacing Joe Flanaghan who was unavailable with Archie Rika Rayne and Ryan Piercy on the bench.
Ilkley kicked off and the ball went out of play on the full, from the scrum, Cleckheaton got a huge push on and the Referee blew for a penalty on half way, Dale Breakwell made no mistake with the long range kick 0-3 after 2 minutes. Ilkley looked dangerous with ball in hand but a couple of thunderous tackles in midfield by Matt Piper drove the hosts back. Ilkley then missed 2 straightforward penalty attempts in the next 10 minutes and when Cleckheaton were pressing there was and infringement at the breakdown and Dale Breakwell put a simple kick over to double the lead 0-6.
Ilkley were guilty of coughing up possession on several occasions allowing Cleckheaton to gain the upper hand. On 32 minutes , Ilkley got the first try of the game, a kick through looked to be going over the dead ball line and there was a tussle for the loose ball and wing Boyd was awarded the touchdown, conversion was wide by King 5-6. On 38 minutes, Dale Breakwell slotted another long range effort from near halfway 5-9 .
As time was running out at the end of an excellent first half, Dale Breakwell attempted a drop goal but it didn't go near the posts and from the restart, Ilkley made a mistake and Tom Breakwell showed his brother how to drop a goal from 30 metres to extend the lead to 5-12 at half time.
Cleckheaton were good value for their halftime lead and on 46 minutes another Breakwell penalty kept the scoreboard ticking over to extend the lead to 5-15.
Ilkley got their second try when Johnson slid over the line , King added the extras and the score was much closer at 12-15. The game was ebbing and flowing, Cleckheaton had a try ruled out after Ben Thrower was adjudged to have made a double movement following a classic driving maul. The reaction of the Ilkley players indicated a try had been scored , there was little doubt in most supporters view but the Referee decided no try and play continued. On 61 minutes the Ilkley No 8 was dispatched to the naughty step after an infringement in the tackle , Breakwell attempted a goal kick but was just short of the target. There was another contentious incident for Cleckheaton when after securing possession from line out another forward drive was deliberately pulled down short of the try line, on another day a penalty try may have been awarded but not on this occasion and the the score remained at 12-15.
On 78 minutes , Johnson got on the end of a break down the right wing and crossed for the 3rd and final try, King added the goal and Ilkley took the lead for the first time in the game 19-15.
From the restart, Ilkley secured the kick and Jack Seddon made contact with the players head and was shown the red card. The ball was kicked out from the penalty and Ilkley won a tight contest 19 -15. Cleckheaton suffered their first defeat of the season but were not outclassed picking up a losing bonus point.
Next week , another local derby to look forward to, Old Brodleians visit Moorend kick off 3.00pm.