It was perhaps a measure of the confidence of the York team as they approached their first home game of the 22/23 league campaign when loose head prop Eddie Westoby walked on to the pitch in gleaming white boots. As skipper Ross White commented, “you have to play well if you are wearing white boots!” However, York weren’t to have things all their own way as a solid and combative Cleckheaton XV had clearly come intent on extending their unbeaten run.

The opening exchanges showed York to be generally sharper, but the Cleckheaton forwards had the edge in the scrum and were succeeding in slowing down York’s second phase ball with some powerful tackling. York broke the deadlock after 12 minutes when after a period of sustained pressure Cusack tried a different tack and chipped over the Cleckheaton defence. York regained possession and strong forward play took them to the Cleckheaton line where White fed Scholey who went over to the left of the posts. Cusack converted, York 7, Cleckheaton 0. Cleckheaton hit back with a brace of tries, the first from a lineout 5m out; York were unable to stop the Cleckheaton pack driving over. The conversion missed, Cleckheaton were soon back deep in the York half, their back line now starting to see some ball and running dangerous lines with some pace and power. Jonty Atkinson’s attempted interception was judged to be deliberate, gaining him a yellow card and 10 minutes in the sin bin. The Cleckheaton back line was finding their rhythm, with play moving right to left Breakwell fed back inside to the powerful Dom Flanaghan who went over untouched for Cleckheaton running a lovely angle behind the York defence. York 7, Cleckheaton 12.

York’s lineout was performing well, White finding his jumpers like Phil ‘the power’ Taylor finding double top. The lineout gave York a good platform from which to mount their response and were able to create sustained pressure in the Cleckheaton half. A lineout in the Cleckheaton 22 following obstruction on Cusack provided the initial platform for York’s second try. The referee chose to play advantage when Piper, the Cleckheaton No.8, was interfering in the subsequent ruck, York moved the ball quickly to the left and following good phase ball White’s hard work was rewarded with the try. Converted by Cusack; York 14, Cleckheaton 12. York were playing with better structure now, Cusack’s excellent distribution allowing them to choose their point of attack more and with the ball doing more of the work Cleckheaton looked tired and stretched. York’s third try came just before half time. Another clever chip by Cusack, was pounced on by the lively Atkin just before it went over the dead ball line. Half time score York 21, Cleckheaton 12.

York made two changes at half time bringing Lewi Jackson on for Eddie Westoby (perhaps his boots were getting dirty?) and Sam Croft on for Joe Maud who had put a significant shift in. York soon extended their lead with a converted try after lovely soft hands by Jackson put Enslin on route 1 to the try line. York 28, Cleckheaton 12. The second half proved a difficult challenge for York against a Cleckheaton side that just wouldn’t give up despite at one point being down to 13 men, their hooker, Bennett having received his second yellow card which was swiftly upgraded to red and flanker Joe Flanaghan receiving a yellow card also that reflected the tempo and pressure that York were putting on the Cleckheaton side. The Cleckheaton pack found new resolve to withhold the York scrum and their back line always looked dangerous with ball in hand.

The pick of the tries in the game came from Cleckheaton when Breakwell, being offered the choice of three strike runners coming at pace, elected to pass deep and late to centre Brambani running an in to out line from deep. He had a clear run into the line to score which was converted by Breakwell to take the game to 28-19 in favour of York. Woffendin completed the York scoring with a good try in the left hand corner after sustained pressure and good passing across the field proved too much for the stretched defence. A mistake at the restart allowed Cleckheaton to regain the ball straight away and quick thinking and sharp running saw Depledge in for an easy try. Final score York 33, Cleckheaton 26.

After two away defeats against arguably two of the stronger sides in the division, it will have been a confidence booster to take a five point win from week three over a very competent Cleckheaton who will prove a challenging proposition for many in the coming weeks. Next weekend sees the novelty of York being involved in Friday night rugby at Doncaster Phoenix who are riding high at the top of the table with an unbeaten record.