The Kestrels put in a convincing performance to land a bonus point win away at Harrogate. Even more encouraging was the fact that seven of the current Colts team featured, including four that were given their 2nd team debuts and all made important contributions.

Harrogate could only field 14 men for this game and so George Speight, with a mixture of his gallantry and his late arrival at Claro Road, was loaned to the home side for the duration of the match. Josh White got the scoring underway after 5 minutes when a Cleckheaton penalty was kicked to the corner and the ensuing catch and drive was expertly guided to the whitewash for a try. Matt Piper’s conversion attempt sailed wide.

Harrogate tried to counter and couple of chips into Cleckheaton’s 22 caused tension but were ultimately dealt with by Fullback Keiron Downes. Cleckheaton’s pack started to gain momentum with 17 year old Joe Humphreys, debuting for the Kestrels at scrum half, showing that he has plenty to offer the Senior squad in the seasons ahead. A mistake from Harrogate gave Cleckheaton a scrum 15m out and props Will Denham and Max Blakely, the latter called up from the 4th team and having an impressive game, steadied the ship and gave White a clean pickup from No.8. The Yorkshire U20’s player crashed into the opposition’s defensive line before off loading to Luke Pearson for Cleckheaton’s second try. The conversion was missed but the scoreboard did not remain stationary for long. From the re-start the ball was fielded by second row Richard Brown who then went on a 40m charge up the wing, he off loaded as the last tackler brought him down and Colts duo Elliot Whetham and Elliot Hallas combined for the latter to score. James Wilson tried his hand at adding the conversion but like Cleckheaton’s previous attempts, the ball flew wide. The whistle blew to end the half with Cleckheaton holding a 15-0 lead.

Jack Seddon entered the fray at half time in the unusual position of Hooker and took his very first scrum against the head. Simon Mitchell also took to the field replacing Tom Hanson in the second row and another of Cleckheaton’s Yorkshire U20’s players, Niall Jackson, came on at prop. It wasn’t long before the Kestrels went further in front when a cross-field kick from Matt Piper was gathered by Craig Blackburn for Cleck’s bonus point try. Colts player Cain Crotty, who’d made his debut in the centre and had a fine game made way for another Colt, Liam Wright to get into the action along with team-mate George Bradley. Cleckheaton kept pressing Harrogate, with back rowers White, Pearson and Brad Marsden, as well as Seddon swooping on every 50:50 ball. It wasn’t long before Harrogate’s defence was broken down again and James Wilson sprinted round the outside for Cleckheaton’s 5th try. Seddon stepped up to take the conversion but also pushed the ball wide, maintaining Cleckheaton’s unwanted 100% record in this regard. Seddon did make up for it in the last few minutes of the game when he took a ball back on the inside, pushing through the defence and passing to Niall Jackson for Cleckheaton’s sixth try. This time Seddon’s conversion attempt went through the uprights and put the Kestrels into a 32-0 lead. With the match drawing to a close, it looked like Harrogate might be facing the ignominy of being beaten to nil, however Craig Blackburn must have been feeling charitable and drifted a long pass through the air just outside Harrogate’s 22, which the home side’s winger gratefully plucked out of the air before sprinting the 75m to spare his team’s blushes.

This was an assured victory for the Kestrel’s and the inclusion of so many young players showed that there is much promise within the club.