Crusaders 2nd XV could not maintain their winning ways and fell to a strong Cleck-heaton side, although the Crusaders were still on level terms at the half time. Keighley were glad to welcome back Margus Part and Simon Shiner back into the two centre spots.

The game set off at a furious pace with both sides willing to throw caution to the wind and attack from anywhere on the field. Both sets of forwards tested each other out with some powerful runs into the heart of the opposition. Defences were of the highest order with both the centres Part and Shiner putting some hard telling tackles. The Crusaders were struggling to win good ball from both lineouts and scrums and therefore had little or no opportunity to show their attacking skills.

Cleckheaton were given the first opportunity to score from a penalty, but the kick failed, but their kicker made amends by kicking his second attempt which was this time under the posts. Keighley at last made some in roads into the Cleckheaton half, but were unable to cross the try line. Just before half time Keighley were disrupted when Part took a very hard tackle and damaged his shoulder. He managed to play out the last five minutes, but was in pain. The Crusaders were awarded a penalty just on half time and Darren Ideson kicked a good penalty to put his side back on equal terms.

Part was replaced by Warren Knowles returning from injury after 7 weeks out of the game. Cleckheaton now changed their tactics playing with a strong setting sun at their backs their stand off kicked at every opportunity towards the Crusaders' left wing. Cleckheaton soon went ahead when their stand off kicked his second penalty. The Crusaders were soon on the attack and a good run by Shiner set up a two on one situation but inexperience by Daffy Williams playing on the wing saw him try to kick the ball around the last man in defence when a simple pass was all that was needed. Cleckheaton cleared their line and reached 9 points through a third penalty. The Crusaders were now being frustrated by some decisions by the referee which had both crowd and players bemused. When he awarded this penalty which put Cleckheaton 6 points ahead he pulled out a Cleckheaton player and threatened to send him off for foul play, and then proceeded to award the penalty to Cleckheaton.

The Crusaders then had their worst part of the game when they allowed one of the Cleckheaton centres to run 50 yards to score a try wide out. The tackling after previously good work was woeful. Jeff Inman had to raise his troops moral. Tempers were now on short fuses and the referee was not helping with his control of the game. Tim Pearson was replaced at prop by Andy Schofield in the last ten minutes. The game was now very scrappy and the referee put both the players and spectators out of their misery.

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