Cleckheaton v Rishworthians

Cleckheaton blown away on a wet windy day

Cleckheaton 0 - 73 Rishworthians

A miserable, blustery, wet autumn morning greeted the Rishies bandwagon to Cleckheaton on Sunday. Some members of the party, children and parents, were looking somewhat bleary eyed and worse for wear after late night Halloween festivities. Fortunately the driving rain ceased just before kick off and spirits were raised. ( Little Halloween joke.) The Rishies youngsters shook off any signs of fatigue and went on to produce a sparkling display of top quality rugby running in 11 unanswered tries.

The Reds got off to the best possible start when Thomas Sweeten followed the kick off deep in to Cleck territory, tackled the opposing player and forced a maul from which the Reds managed to steal the ball and George Radcliffe dived over near the corner flag. Sweeten missed the conversion. The second try followed soon after with a perfectly executed training ground move. From a penalty, scrum half Will McDonnell dummied two passes before firing the ball out to Sweeten on the wing who used his strength to force his way over the line. Sweeten missed the conversion.

The Reds were in control of the game but were guilty of dropping a few simple passes, but another slick move brought about another try. Another penalty by Cleck gave Rishies chance for another move and Jack Davis obliged after running on to a pass and barging his way through the defence. McDonnell converted to make the score 17-0. Rucking has been a big part of training recently and the second row pair of Jamie Smith and George Radcliffe did some excellent work in the breakdown area and their determination gave McDonnell the time to collect the ball in the ruck and run in to score. McDonnell converted his own try. Cleckheaton had no answer to the aggression of the Reds tackling and defence. Even when they managed to get through the forward line, the back line of Jamie Highley, Charlotte Siddall and full back Nathan Cooper stepped up and made big tackles. The front row of Lewis Hilton, Thomas Cockroft and Greg Day were causing big problems for the Cleck forwards and great play by them forced a loose ball which was picked up by fly half Sam Bake who had to beat 3 players before scoring. McDonnell converted.

Half Time Cleckheaton 0 - 31 Rishworthians

The second half continued to see the Reds dominating play. Half back pair of McDonnell and Bake controlled the game and the back row produced some wonderful passing moves with Jamie Highley just missing out on a try when he knocked on a metre from the line. Another try was on the cards and from a scrum 5 metres from the Cleck try line the ball was fed out to Sweeten on the wing to power over. McDonnell converted.

The floodgates now opened and the Reds began to score at will. The technically better front row of the Reds won another scrum against the head deep in their own half and Davis was on hand to sprint the full length of the field to increase the lead to 43-0. McDonnell converted. Thomas Creasy on the wing and full back Cooper tested the Cleckheaton defence with some jinking runs and Sweeten again used his power and pace to bring play up in to Cleck territory where another excellent Reds ruck allowed McDonnell to stroll through a massive gap to score his second. He converted his own try.

Even though the game was somewhat one sided the Cleckheaton youngsters never gave up the cause. Another scrum against the head gave the platform for the next try when Bake scampered over from close range. McDonnell converted. McDonnell then scored a solo try when he set of from deep inside his own half and sprinted down the right wing to go in at the corner. Sweeten converted. The final try was another team effort. From another turnover ball play was moved up field through numerous hands, and then through a phase of rucks where fittingly hooker Cockroft dived through a mass of players and placed the ball over the line. McDonnell again converted and the final whistle was then blown with the final score 73-0 to the Reds.

Tries: Will McDonnell (3), Sam Bake (2), Thomas Sweeten (2), Jack Davis (2), George Radcliffe, Thomas Cockroft.
Conversions: Will McDonnell (8), Thomas Sweeten

Man of the match award goes to the front row of Lewis Hilton, Thomas Cockroft and Greg Day.
Effort award to the whole team.

I think I can say on behalf of the coaches that we are highly delighted with the attitude shown by all the players. With the game won by half time it would be easy to sit back and relax but the guys actually upped the pace in the second half and played some wonderful rugby. What was impressive was the way the team opened up the Cleck defence with the set moves that were re introduced in training. Although most of the tries came from the backs, they could not have done so without the hard graft by the front 5 who laid the platforms throughout the game. Well done to all.

Dave Mc