Brods travelled to Moorend looking to continue their good form in North East One. Cleckheaton have been playing at this level for several years and the newly promoted Brods team saw this game as a bench mark going forward to check their performance levels. Brods supporters were not disappointed with a display which confirms the ability of their team to play at this level.

Brods opened brightly in difficult conditions, and took the game to their hosts in the early exchanges. Despite losing Ben Barron with an early injury they opened the scoring with a well taken penalty goal from Phil Town on 6 minutes 0-3. Brods continued to play in Cleckheaton territory and were looking comfortable in the tight scrums and lineouts however lost Cameron Wroot to the sin bin for a no arms tackle on 15 minutes. Brods were building some momentum and Dom Georgiou made a promising break in midfield splitting the defence and taking play deep into the home 22. After a good period of pressure Brods forwards set the position and with the Cleckheaton defence at full stretch Jimmy Hodkinson saw his opportunity to go for the line and finished well from short range. The conversion was missed however the score line reflected the early play 0-8 after 23 minutes. Brods domination of the lineout with some accurate throwing from Elliot Craven and excellent hands from Ben Hoyle and Bob Sykes in difficult conditions was beginning to tell and from such a lineout Phil Town made an outside break. Michael Briggs was in support and his strong running took him to the line for a further try. Towns conversion extended the lead to 0-15.

Cleckheaton responded well and for the first time in the game were able to gain some territory deep in the Brods half. Having established a good position the ball was moved right and then to the left stretching the defence to the limit and Cleck were rewarded with a well taken try in the left hand corner, the conversion from touch was missed 5-15.

From the restart Cleck continued to press and were back on the attack following a well taken long range kick to touch by fly half Dale Breakwell however the pressure was relieved with a break out from defence by Adam Sutcliffe who took play from the Brods 22 deep into Cleckheaton territory. A second yellow card to a Cleckheaton player left the home side short of personnel as the half time whistle blew.

Cleckheaton dug in for the opening exchanges in the second half and were rewarded with a penalty converted by Dale Breakwell 8-15 and with a further penalty from long range by Breakwell it was game on at 11-15.

Brods took the game deep into the home 22 from the restart and the pressure told as a penalty was awarded to Brods under the home side posts. Town converted 11-18.

Brods continued to take the game to their hosts and with Dom Georgiou chasing a kick through deep into the Cleck 22 he was clearly tackled off the ball with the line at his mercy. The referee presumably played advantage as the game continued and the ball was moved left where the Brods had created an overlap and the hard working Alex Murphy was able to finish in the corner to extend the lead and with Towns conversion increased their lead to 11-25.

The Hipperholme boys were now in complete control and were looking for a fourth try to earn a vital bonus point. Some powerful play down centrefield and a good kick to the corner put the Woodhead boys in a good position. The Brod’s domination of the lineouts was now clear and with another good take the Hipperholme pack drove to the line forcing Cleckheaton to infringe once more. A penalty was awarded which Cleckheaton defended well repulsing the attack with hard work in defence. Brods however regained their momentum and broke the defence with a long pass from Town spreading the ball wide to Dom Georgiou on the right wing who touched down for the bonus point winning try in the corner, 11-30. Cleckheaton showed great spirit in the final ten minutes with several attacks mounted on the visitors line. The home side eventually were rewarded when a cross kick from Dale Breakwell was gathered well on the left wing by Tom Hainsworth who touched down in the corner for the final score of the match 16-30.

Brods coach Olly Akroyd was pleased with his team’s performance against the team he played for a few years ago and is looking forward to the next game which will be at home to Scarborough on the 16th October.

Richard Turner