Cleckheaton claimed their third bonus point win in as many weeks with a five try victory over Stockport based, Burnage. The Moorenders welcomed back Rob Afoa Peterson and Jack Bickerdike for this National League 3 encounter after both had been side-lined with injury for a number of games. Bickerdike, still working his knee back to full flexibility, started on the bench.

Cleckheaton got off to a good start and opened their account in the first 5 minutes, when forward pressure set up good field position and a deceptive pass from Michael Piper put Matt Piper into a gap. Despite the attention of the full back, he forced his way over to the right of the sticks for his first try of the afternoon. Ross Hayden added the extras. Cleckheaton backed up the try with another in fairly quick succession. A penalty gave the home side a line-out 10m out and although Burnage's strong forward pack, which would challenge Cleckheaton's all afternoon, were able to prevent the ball being driven over from the catch, they couldn't stop James Wilson diving over the ruck from short range for Cleckheaton's second converted try.

Burnage tried to get into the game but couldn't break down Cleckheaton's defensive wall and good skills in the the contact area, notably from Richard Piper and Tom Austin, turned over Burnage's possession a number of times. Cleckheaton worked their way down field when Craig Blackburn and Ross Hayden combined for the latter to get held up a foot short. Matt Piper gathered the ball from the back of the ruck and got the leg drive going, which the visitors' defence could not deny and Cleckheaton went into a 19-0 lead.

Burnage hit back when a rare foray into Cleckheaton's 22, was supported by an excellent angled run by centre Danny Halliwell, taking him through Cleckheaton's line for a converted try. Cleckheaton were to have the last say in the first half however, when Matt Piper broke through just outside Burnage's 22. With the visitors' fullback, who was stood on the line, the only thing between Piper claiming a hat-trick and having to buy the jug of ale that traditionally goes with it, the centre unselfishly passed inside to James Wilson who dived in under the sticks. The conversion gave Cleckheaton a commanding 26-7 half time lead and a try scoring bonus point.

The second half remained uneventful for the first 20 minutes, save for a fine break up the middle by Ollie Akroyd and a hack on my Martin Woodhead and James Wilson, which the latter seemed to have touched down but the score was not given. Both sides disrupted each others' line out and there were unforced errors aplenty. Mid-way through the half Matt Piper was given a yellow card for blocking a runner from an offside position and then within 60 seconds Rob Afoa Peterson was also sin-binned for a technical offence at the ruck. Cleckheaton reduced to 13 men, had to defend like demons but are unfortunately becoming quite accustomed to having fewer than 15 men on the pitch in the second half this year. Lee Queeley was switched from centre to flanker on defensive scrums and whilst Burnage's pack were kept at bay, big spaces appeared out wide. Burnage looked certain to score through these gaps but with the line beckoning their centre summed up the teams' second half by dropping an easy pass. Eventually the clock ticked round and Cleckheaton were restored to full compliment. Jack Bickerdike had been introduced back into the fold for the first time in a month and Cleckheaton's forwards started to rumble up field. A break from Josh White, continued by Tom Austin put Burnage on the back foot and after Paul Turner had gone close carrying three defenders with him, James Wilson went in for his hat trick.

Burnage got a consolation try in the corner in the last few minutes of the match to give a final score of 31-12. Cleckheaton had out performed their opposition and were worthy winners, maintaining their unbeaten home record at Fortress Moorend this season. This weekend the team take a break from National League 3, to play Sheffield in the Yorkshire Cup. The game which is also at Moorend kicks off at 2:15pm, the standard kick off time for all Saturday afternoon games until March.

The Kestrels were also successful at the weekend beating Yarnbury away 36-33.