On a clear autumn day, Cleckheaton travelled to York for the second time in two weeks. On this occasion to play a Yorkshire Cup game. Both teams selected teams that featured new names with some experienced players being rested for the league. The two flankers for York were Oscar Bell and Adam Bowers. Sam Elliott made his first team debut at fly-half with Harry Taylor playing on the wing. This quartet are all young players graduating from the York youth section. Stefan Dziurzynski (number eight) and Harry Jinks (wing) both moved up from the second team and the current York head coach, Lee Denham, played at hooker.
There was a minutes silence before the game to remember those that lost their lives in both World Wars and in conflicts since .

York began the game brightly and took an early lead. The ball was fed to Sam Elliott from an attacking centre-field scrum. He ran and stepped through the space in the defence to score. Cleckheaton wing, Mikey Hayward chose a nice line and broke through a couple of York midfield tackles to reply for the visitors with Ronan Evans (fly-half) adding the conversion to put Cleckheaton ahead. Another set scrum, this time from inside their own half, allowed York to put on an impressive scoring move. Harry Taylor was released into open pastures behind the Cleckheaton defence and he made a clean final pass for George Davies to score; Sam Elliot was successful with the conversion. Mikey Haywood again split the York defence for Cleckheaton to score again and make it 12-12 at half-time.

Charlie McGovern and Josh Plunket both received yellow cards to put Cleckheaton down to thirteen players at one stage but York couldn’t break through. They had pressure and persistence but they didn’t score in what was an even game. There were three tries in the final ten minutes - Matty Piper (Cleckheaton centre and captain) crashed over from ten metres out which was converted. Harry Jinks ran down the wing and in to score a try for York from halfway which was again converted by Sam Elliot. Just before the end, Mikey Hayward showed a wide-receivers balance to receive a cross-field kick and tip-toe in to the corner to win the game, 19-24 to Cleckheaton.

Cleckheaton will now play Wharfedale away in the 3rd Round. York return to league action next week when league leaders Morpeth are the visitors to Clifton Park.

photos : http://www.yorkrufc.co.uk/photos/york-v-cleckheaton-yorkshire-cup-10th-november-201-842606.html