Rugby Union: Having run in 69 points at home to Morpeth in North Two East the previous week, Cleckheaton found Yorkshire Division One Pontefract a much harder nut to crack in the second round of the Intermediate Cup.

Early pressure came from the visitors, but Cleckheaton defended well.

There was much untidy play as both sides took time to settle before Cleckheaton scored from their first real attack.

It was started by Phil Veivers, who chipped the ball to Mark Garretty, the supporting Craig West going over in the corner for a 14th-minute try, Alex Green converting.

Cleckheaton kept up the pressure, but Pontefract defended well and were soon on the score board.

With some good interplay, the ball went across field to Nick Cooper, who went in the corner for a try in the 25th minute.

Cleckheaton had a try disallowed, and the only other scores in the half were a penalty each to Green and former Bees player Julian Appleyard, making the score 10-8 at half-time.

The hosts stepped up their game at the start of the second half, and after five minutes of pressure Cleckheaton's forwards pushed lock Dave Ingham over for a try, Green converting.

Cleckheaton then brought on Director of Rugby John Bentley and Gary Mercer - assistant to Graham Steadman at Castleford Tigers - came on.

With Cleckheaton once again in Pontefract's 22 from a line-out, the forwards pushed the ball out to Mercer, who in turn passed to Veivers, who sent Jason Tozer in for a try.

Cleckheaton added to their score with a Green penalty to make it 25-8.

Cleckheaton continued to go forward, but a dropped pass was picked up by Cooper, who raced two-thirds of the field to go in the corner, Appleyard converting to put Pontefract back in the game.

With the visitors mounting a spirited fightback and Cleckheaton riding their luck this was a good cup tie and great entertainment for both sets of fans.

Wheatley Hills 23, Bradford & Bingley 34

A late try by winger Asa Firth, Matthew Booth converting, eased the tension as the Bees put themselves in the hat for the third round of the Inter-mediate Cup.

The visitors opened the scoring after five minutes with a penalty by Booth, the home side then suffering a blow when captain and coach Mark Hardcastle retired with a hamstring injury.

Andy Hall promptly equalised with a penalty, but Steve Brimacombe put Firth through for a try under the posts, Booth converting and also landing a penalty.

Almost on half-time, the home side's prop Marshall was sin-binned for punching, the Bees driving flanker John Potter over from the resulting penalty, Booth converting.

Ten minutes into the second half, Firth wriggled over in the corner, Booth improving to make it 27-6.

But the Doncaster club fought back, and for 25 minutes laid siege to the Bees line. Domi-nating the line-out, loose and scrum, they scored three tries through Plever, Clarke and Porter, Hall adding one conversion as Hills scorned several easy penalty kicks.