Cleckheaton 36 – 7 Morley

A much improved performance by Cleckheaton blitzed Morley at Moorend to take the team back towards mid table. Rob Afoa-Peterson returned to action after missing two games due to injury but Jack Bickerdike remained unfit to play, so James Wilson once again filled in at No. 9 and went on to have an excellent game.

It was Wilson who opened the home side’s account not long into the match. Cleckheaton’s forwards looked to be on top throughout the game and the first signs of this came early on when a series of driving runs at the back of the ruck took play close to Morley’s line. With defences spread anticipating the next runner, Wilson spotted space directly in front of the ruck and dived through for a try. Ross Hayden converted. Hayden then went on to set up Cleckheaton’s next try. Hands along the back line found the fullback taking possession along the left flank. The pass was slightly in front and was juggled, seeming to be on the verge of being lost. However quick thinking from Hayden allowed the ball to drop onto his foot, where he directed it cross-field to the opposite corner. Danny Vento was first on the scene and dribbled the ball into the in-goal area for an excellent try.

Disaster looked to have struck against Cleckheaton’s solid start when a knocked down ball and handling on the floor resulted in Matt Piper and then in short succession, Ollie Akroyd, being placed in the sin bin. With 13 men, conceding of points seemed inevitable, but Cleckheaton’s work rate, particularly from Tom Austin was outstanding and the Maroon’s were kept at bay. As Cleckheaton returned to 14 players, a number of barnstorming runs from Richard Piper and Rob Afoa Peterson, looking fresh after his fortnight’s lay off, put Morley on the back foot. Alex Dawson who carried hard all afternoon, picked up and charged forward, freeing an arm in the tackle to off load to Hayden who sprinted into the corner from 30m out. Hayden also added the conversion from out wide and at half time Cleckheaton had ploughed into a 19-0 lead.

Morley started the 2nd half with determination but it was to no avail. Caught in possession inside Cleckheaton’s half, the referee held his arm out for penalty advantage just as Cleckheaton managed to free the ball from Morley tackled player. Expecting the whistle at any point Morely hesitated briefly, but James Wilson saw the opportunity and darted through a gap. With only a couple of Morley forwards to one side of him, the scrum half put his head down and sprinted 65m for Cleckheaton’s bonus point try.

Morley looked down and out and had not performed well but one bright moment for the visitors came when Morley youngster, Dante van der Merwe, demonstrated the art of running in 3 directions at once, bamboozling Cleckheaton’s defence for a solo try to put the Maroons on the board. Any resurgence was cut short as Cleckheaton once again bashed their way up field and Matt Piper extended the lead with a drop goal. The home side finished off the scoring with another wonderful effort from teenager Sam Wood, who was given his inaugural 1st XV start. The rangy outside centre made a break up Cleckheaton’s left and with tacklers in front of him, spotted space towards the sticks and kicked the ball towards them. Ross Hayden caught the Morley fullback as he was about to gather and stole the ball, off-loading to Wood who had also chased in support. With a deft swivel of the hips, the young centre evaded the remaining cover tackler and went in for his second try in two games. Five minutes later the referee blew to end the match and Cleckheaton had posted a dominant 36-7 win.

An excellent performance from Cleckheaton, which will set them in good stead for the trip to Lymm next week. With the Cheshire men just one point above them in the league, it promises to be an intriguing first fixture between the two clubs, as Cleckheaton still seek their first win on the road this season.