York and Cleckheaton have both had solid starts to the season. Cleckheaton scored nine tries last week and York have won their last three. They are both in the upper half of the North East One table.

York selected a balanced eighteen for today’s game. John Aikman was the loose-head prop forward with Ross White inside him at hooker. Their experience helped to guide the two young flankers, Freddie Smith and Oscar Bell. Toby Atkin, Declan Cusack and Jonny Frank are building an effective understanding at Nine, Ten and Twelve respectively. Sam Elliot and Rob Hodges were the two wingers today in what is looking to be a strong, balanced and talented squad.

For Cleckheaton, Dale Breakwell is a skilled fly-half who stands-off a very capable and committed forward pack. The weather was dry with no wind to speak of.

The opening period of the game was high quality. Both teams enjoyed possession and territorial superiority at one point but the defence of both teams began well. Neither team made mistakes to begin the game. The Cleckheaton gains were achieved through accurate kicking by Dale Breakwell. Their phase play was structured and strong but was matched by the organised York defence. The York possession saw equal parts of mobile forward structure with accurate passing and movement in the back-line. Both teams with the ball made the opposing defence work hard. Nothing was easy.

York scored first. Toby Atkin, still in his own half, took a half-gap between two defenders and released Sam Elliot in space on the wing. Sam kicked the ball over his opposing winger and collected fluently before running in to score a delightful try. Declan kicked the conversion. After Oscar Bell carried the ball fifteen metres to set up York attacking ball, Cleckheaton found themselves short of defenders on the blind-side of a ruck. Toby exploited this, passing to Rob Hodges who ran in to score. Declan kicked a lovely conversion from the touch line to double the York lead.

York pressurised the Cleckheaton scrummage and turned one over against the head. George Davies, playing at outside-centre, passed to Liam Hessay on a deep pacey line from full-back. Liam released Sam at pace who passed on his inside to Freddie Smith. York nearly went sixty metres to score but Cleck’ forced a turnover and Breakwell cleared. Ross White broke a tackle and ran-in for York very soon after though. Conversion was good again.

York’s bonus-point try followed shortly after. Shane Goulding (number Eight) broke from the back of a midfield scrum, he released Sam outside him who timed his pass to Toby in support to allow him to score. Declan converted the try again. Cleckheaton responded and showed what they can achieve in attack given the opportunity. They won a penalty and set up a driving maul from a line-out that was secure all afternoon. Their hooker, Ben Thrower, pressed the ball over the line and Breakwell kicked the extras.

The Cleckheaton play in the loose was solid and they ensured that York were making their tackles. After a York infringement, Dale Breakwell added three points to the visitors total from a straight forty metres. York re-established a healthy lead before half-time though. With Cleck’ centre, Olly Depledge injured, the York backs linked accurately and in space with Rob Hodges finishing the move off to get his second try of the game. Conversion was fine, 35-10 at half-time.

Cleckheaton surged into the second-half. Declan was yellow-carded after there was a deliberate knock-down with the visitors looking to score in the corner. No penalty try was awarded but Cleckheaton drove over anyway. Second-row, Josh Plunkett got the score and Breakwell slotted the kick. Cleck’ then set up another driving maul twenty-five metres from the York line. With confidence and technique, they rumbled it the whole way. Ryan Piercy got the try, conversion good. Cleckheaton’s try bonus point bought them suprisingly within a single score of York. Tom Breakwell at scrum-half finished off a move that had runners in plenty of space. The conversion was fine.

York were able to secure the victory in the final quarter of the game though. Rob Hodges got his hat-trick try after some slick handling from all of the numbers before Shane Goulding stormed over the line from twenty out. Declan got both conversions.

Final Score York 49 v Cleckheaton 29.
York travel to Scarborough next Saturday, Cleckheaton host Durham City.

photos : https://www.yorkrufc.co.uk/photos/york-rufc-v-cleckheaton-rufc-12th-october-2019-918656.html