Brods crash out of Yorkshire Cup
by Gordon Feather
The 2024/25 season got underway on Saturday when the Brods hosted near neighbours and old adversaries, Cleckheaton, in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup. Under sunny skies and with a friendly carnival atmosphere, a decent crowd gathered, with a large contingent of Cleck supporters, pleased to be back on the touchline watching a new season of competitive rugby.

The Brods fielded a strong looking team comprising a large complement of last year’s regulars plus debutants from local clubs, returnees and juniors stepping up to first team rugby for the first time.

Cleck got proceedings underway with Brods electing to play up the slope, and the opening minutes showed both sides’ willingness to play an expansive game with first the visitors pressing and then Hodkinson racing upfield to put Brods in a threatening position.

Cleck were controlling position though and forcing errors, and after Imiolek retired early with what appeared to be a hand injury, to be replaced replaced by Smart, an overlap was created and a neat passing movement saw the Cleck wing score wide out on the right hand side. The visitors fly half, Breakwell, converted. 0 -7 after 12 minutes.

A period of long kicks back and forth ensued but the visitors were gaining the advantage and the Brods seemed unable to hold the ball. Despite defending well, the pressure was mounting and Cleck forced a penalty from a Brods high tackle, which led to a Cleck line out in the Brods 22. From this, a well-rehearsed catch and drive, and the visitors were over the line again with a try, converted by Breakwell. At 0-14 after 20 minutes the Brods were up against it. From the kick off the visitors were pressing again but Brods responded with a long run from the promising young full back Gilgrass, and then young Wroot who ran some 50 metres upfield before kicking on to gather, but was obstructed by the visitors’ full back when a fine individual try seemed on. From the resulting penalty, kicked to the visitors 5m line, and ensuing line out, it was now the Brods turn to score by means of a gather and drive, well executed by the impressive Stapley. Conversion narrowly missed by Kelly taking the score to 5-14 after 26 minutes.

From the kick off the visitors were pressing again and pressure seemed to be relieved by a long kick into Cleck territory by Kelly but the kick rolled dead and play was brought back to the home 22 for a visitors’ line-out. After a couple of phases of forward drives the ball was spread to the right and the Cleck centre was over again for a try, with the conversion missed on this occasion making the score 5-19 after 30 minutes. Despite good pressure from the Brods with Culf, Stapley and Craven to the fore, the Brods were unable to breach the Cleck defence and the score remained the same at half time leaving the home side plenty to do in the second half.

The home side kicked off the second half with Goodall replacing Culf, and Goodall immediately made his presence felt with strong drives in attack and stalwart defence. The Brods were gaining confidence and retaining possession with forward drives and good back play. After 45 minutes a slick move involving new boys Hesletine and Dunne in the centre released speedy winger Barron to score in the corner. The conversion was missed by Kelly taking the score to 10 – 19. From the visitors’ kick off bearded prop Smart made a fine break, leading to an excellent move involving forwards and backs which took play to the visitors line with Brods being unable to create the elusive finish. Brods were now bossing procedures and the fresh legs introduced from the bench now gave the Brods the edge over the tiring visitors, with the combative Dom Georgiou showing up well. Following a sustained period of Brods pressure play was brought up the slope by determined Cleck relieving kicks. With both teams tiring mistakes were being made but on 65 minutes another length of the field move involving both forwards and backs inter-passing saw Brods score the try of the match when Doug Heseltine crashed over for the home side's third. The conversion was missed but at 15-19 the Brods were well and truly back in the game.

However, the old heads in the Cleck pack, notably led by experienced Dickie Piper, kept the visitors retaining possession and pressing in Brods territory forcing a number of penalties. In the last throes of the game Breakwell kicked a penalty to give the visitors a well-deserved but very hard earned victory by 15-22. Were the Brods a little more clinical in finishing the score may well have been different, but credit has to be given to the well organised visitors defence.

The Brods put in a strong performance against an experienced side from a division higher, which bodes well for a good run in the league in the forthcoming season.

Matchday Sponsor: Aqua Rod

Brods Teamsheet
(* denotes player who has progressed through Brods Junior Pathways)
1. Lee Imiolek
2. Elliot Craven * (C)
3. Joe Sealey *
4. Charlie Culf *
5. Callum Heseltine
6. Liam Stapley *
7. Ryan Harris *
8. Robert Sykes

9. James Hodkinson *
10. Joshua Kelly
11. Benedict Barron *
12. Harry Dunne *
13. Douglas Heseltine
14. Ethan Wroot *
15. George Gillgrass *

16. Elliot Burke *
17. Jack Smart
18. Simeon Archibald *
19. Jamel Goodall
20. Dominic Georgiou *
21. Adam Smith *