Cleckheaton 20

Pontefract 13

Cleckheaton seem to have the happy knack of winning without playing well in Yorkshire Division One.

They made it three victories out of three with what chairman of selectors Tudor Evans described as a "curate's egg of a performance - good in parts".

The forwards' coach added: "We played well in patches, but we have so many new players this season that we haven't really gelled."

Pontefract return to Moorend on Saturday week for a second round NPI Cup tie, and Evans said: "We will have the psychological advantage because we beat them.

"And we might rack up some points next weekend and go into the tie with much greater confidence."

However, he then sounded a note of caution remembering that a reverse pass to the inside centre had gone to ground and handed Pontefract fly half Glenn Boyd the opening try and conversion.

"We were over complicating things in the backs, and that is the kind of manoeuvre we should be trying when we are 20 to 30 points up, not when the scores are level."

Pontefract's stand-in skipper James Grant - captain Jamie Kaye was on his way to Dewsbury District Hospital for ten stitches in a hand wound - said: "Our chances of winning the cup tie are very good.

"We had two opportunities to score tries which went begging - one when Cleckheaton got away with a deliberate knock on - and our fly half Glenn Boyd missed with four penalties kicks at goal.

"Cleckheaton have a big front five, but our defence was solid because they were rumbling and coming round the edges."

The home side began in very positive fashion after winning the toss and playing downhill, and dominated the first eight minutes.

They didn't score, however, despite centre John Bentley and fly half Richard Ham - deputising for regular No 10 Graham Steadman who is Castleford Tigers' assistant coach and was with them for their Super League play-off at Leeds - going close..

Cleckheaton paid the penalty for their missed chances in the 24th minute. Their attack broke down in midfield and Yorkshire Under-20 player Boyd picked the ball up.

He was half caught, but had the strength and pace to break away for the try, which he easily converted into a strong breeze.

Cleckheaton's response was impressive, and left winger Jason Tozer did particularly well to keep an attack alive despite being under severe pressure near the touchline.

Seconds later skipper Bentley picked up the ball low down and saw a gap to cut through for a try three minutes later, full back Alec Green converting.

Boyd then missed with two penalty kicks - one either side of the sticks - and Green's reply in the 37th minute gave Cleckheaton a 10-7 lead.

Cleckheaton gave themselves a bit of breating space with a try early in the second half.

A maul on Pontefract's 22 in which Cleckheaton flanker Neil Gillan was a major element brought quick recycled ball, and Green went over. He converted to make it 17-7.

A Boyd penalty boosted Pontefract, although he missed two others, but Cleckheaton could breathe much more easily after another Green penalty made it 20-13 in injury time.

Cleckheaton are top of the table, but their points difference is only plus 16, which reflects the tightness of their games so far this season.