Cleckheaton got 2015 off to a terrific start with a top drawer performance against National 3 North high flyers, Sale FC. A feast of commitment and passion maintained the Moorender’s unbeaten home record in the league this season and dished up a great game in front of a good crowd.

The first half hour of the match was locked in stalemate. Cleckheaton seemed to be edging the arm wrestle and enjoyed territorial advantage on a pitch, which - though excellent for the time of year – was more suited to rumbling Forward play rather than the fancy dancing of the backs. This would ultimately pay dividends for Cleckheaton. It was the opposition who opened the scoring though when a kick through into the in-goal area looked to have been grounded by Jack Bickerdike but Sale’s Chris Mayor dived on the ball a split second later and was awarded a try. The conversion from Liam McGovern gave them a brief 7-0 lead before Ross Hayden reduced the gap with a penalty goal to open Cleckheaton’s account. The Moorenders enjoyed a spell of real pressure as the half drew to a close, with Alex Dawson nearly getting over, but it was Sale who had the last word when McGovern added another penalty goal to give them a 10-3 lead at the break.

Cleckheaton were right in the game, their defensive efforts had almost nullified Sales’s attack in the first half and more of the same would make for a very interesting second forty minutes. The home side made an encouraging start when forward pressure from the kick off gave space for Michael Piper to land a drop goal. One of many excellent kicks from the stand-off, which would earn him Man of the Match. From the re-start Cleckheaton took the game to Sale. The pack worked tirelessly running the ball into contact time and time again testing Sale’s defence and pushing them slowly backwards. When scrum half, Bickerdike, had ran out of runners, some pinpoint kicking from Mike Piper and good chasing from back three of Martin Woodhead, Cammy Burnhill and Ross Hayden pinned Sale in their own half. A penalty on the half way line for Cleckheaton gave them a kick to the corner and a chance to try out the catch and drive. Richard Piper had been forced to leave the field shortly after half time with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Jack Seddon, so it was Ben Thrower who claimed possession at the back of the maul as the slow and steady walk forward started. For a few moments Sale looked like they may be able to quell Cleckheaton’s momentum but James Wilson, Lee Queeley and Ross Hayden ran in from the back line and the 12-man maul could not be stopped. Thrower got the touch down and Hayden added a difficult conversion to give the Moorenders a 13-10 lead.

Attempts by Sale to hit back were met by stonewall defence and frustrations led to a yellow card for the visitors’ No. 10, McGovern. Cleckheaton opted for the corner and Ollie Akroyd pulled the ball in by the very tips of his fingers. In another moment that typified an all round team performance, a 12-man maul was formed for a second time and the ball was driven over the whitewash. Rob Afoa Peterson getting this one down and Hayden once again nailing a conversion from a yard from the touchline. The final 10 minutes seemed to take an age. Sale were throwing all they could at Cleckheaton but the Moorenders were responding with vigour. Carl Mason and Josh White added fresh legs, reprieving Afoa-Peterson and Danny Vento who had given it they’re all. Paul Turner and Callum Thompson had also run their blood to water, with cramp setting in, they’d know they’d been in a game the next morning. With a minute or so left Sale got a try to give their sizeable following a ray of hope and at the same time jangle the nerves of the Cleckheaton faithful. There was time for the restart but Sale knew if they turned over possession or the ball went dead the game would be over. They threw the ball around like it was the Hong Kong Sevens in springtime, rather than the Spen Valley in the middle of winter but Cleckheaton had not put in so much effort to let it slip away and eventually an infringement gave the Moorenders a penalty, which Mike Piper promptly kicked into touch to seal a memorable victory.

This was an impressive performance from Cleckheaton, who have now proved that they can mix it with the very best in National 3 North. Next week the team travels over the Pennies to play Rossendale in another tough encounter before league leaders Sandal make the daunting trip to Moorend.