Cleckheaton Kestrels 43 – 10 West Leeds

Seven tries from 7 different players, 4 from the Forwards and 3 from the Backs, neatly summarises an excellent team effort against West Leeds. Coach, Gordon Piper, demanded a better performance from the Kestrels following a lack lustre display in the previous game and the players did not disappoint.

With 4 of the side that lost to Wath out injured or unavailable, the Kestrels called on the services of Lyndon Ashley, Matt Wood, and Andy Corfield. All acquitted themselves well, with the latter doing the honours at tight head for the full 80 minutes.

West Leeds had not come to Moorend to lie down and put up spirited resistance in the opening exchanges. Gareth Lamb made an early break and looked likely to score up the left hand side, however Leeds’ winger had not given up the cause and bundled the Cleck centre into touch 5 metres out. The Kestrels maintained the pressure with the Forwards controlling possession and again the ball was spread to the left channel. This time, it was James Wilson in only his 2nd game back from a badly broken leg, who took the final pass and had the gas to sprint in at the corner.

Cleckheaton’s 5-0 lead only lasted a short time as West Leeds took the game back to the home side. A couple of avoidable penalties, coming in from the wrong side and handling on the floor, did not escape the proficient referee and within a minute the visitors had advanced from the half-way line to a shot at goal from under the sticks. The successful penalty tightened the score to 5-3.

The Kestrels’ tempo in the forwards began to pay dividends and Cleck pressurised the visitors’ line, going close on a number of occasions, before Ricky Motlib scooped up the ball from 10 metres out and powered his way over. The conversion was missed and the score was to stay at 10-3 for the remaining ten minutes of the half.

Cleckheaton applied themselves with renewed vigour in the second period and scored 5 tries with just one in response from the opposition. The first was scored by Aiden Bullen, who had made several excellent breaks through-out the game and came on the back of a charging tap penalty run by Nick Holland. Jarrad Toulson was next on the score sheet, cutting a hole through the defence with neat inter-passing between himself and his centres. He then added the extras to bring the score to 22-3.

Cleckheaton’s forwards continued to play a dynamic game, advancing with the ball in hand and clearing rucks better than in any game since Christmas. Back Row, Danny Graham, registered the next try, hitting a short pass from scrum half Fletcher at pace and speeding over the line. Toulson was again successful with the boot.

With the score at 29-3 you could have forgiven Leeds for throwing in the towel in the last 20 minutes but they did far from that and hit back with a converted try of their own. However, any thoughts of a comeback were short lived when more good play from Cleck’s Forwards and Backs alike, resulted in Sam Sessions taking a pass 10m out and jinking his way past 2 defenders for his first Senior try. Nathan Clayton then rounded off the afternoon when he a received a quick tap penalty a few metres from the line and ghosted through a tiring defence for Cleckheaton’s 7th try. Toulson improved both scores to give a final result of 43-10.

This was a very competent display by the Kestrel’s, which demonstrated how far they have come this season. With 2 league games left, promotion looks within their grasp.