Cleckheaton fell to a 26-13 defeat in a full-blooded encounter against Huddersfield YMCA at Laund Hill on Saturday.

The Rugby Football Union, North One East, fixture had an extra edge with the team boasting the highest aggregate points scored across the home and away fixture bagging the John Bower Trophy.

The silverware is dedicated to John, who was a stalwart of both clubs, but died in 1998 while in his late 40s after a short illness due to a brain tumour.

Cleakheaton newbie, Damian Pearson, debuted after joining the club recently and Mike Swetman returned.

Dale Breakwell had two attempts at penalty goals in the opening five minutes, but the normally reliable outside half was wide of the mark.

Gavin Stead put YMCA on the board with a penalty after 10 minutes and then doubled their lead to 6-0 five minutes later.

It was then third time lucky for Breakwell, who hit a penalty from 30m, to make it 6-3.

The game wasn't able to flow as the whistle happy referee kept blowing for some very dubious decisions.

On the half hour mark, Cleck's James Wilson was sin binned for an alleged high tackle, but YMCA were unable to take advantage of the situation.

As the interval approached, a sweeping Cleckheaton move to the left saw right wing Mikey Hayward come central and gave a pass to Danny Booth, who got his eighth try of the season.

A Breakwell conversion gave Cleck a 10-6 lead at half time.

At the start of the second half, YMCA were dominating possession and Sam Hodge, standing off the back of a 5 metre scrum crashed over for an unconverted try, putting YM into a narrow lead.

They increased this to 18-10 when the ball was spread to YM’s Man of the Match, Gavin Stead, who capitalised on a tackling mix up between Wilson and Swetman to score under the posts and then converted.

Breakwell reduced the arrears on 62 minutes with his second penalty of the game before Stead replied to restore the 8 point advantage.

With just over 10 minutes to go the scoreboard read 21-13 in YM’s favour.

Cleckheaton began to destroy the YMCA scrum at this stage with Cleckheaton’s Man of the Match, Paul Turner, showing his power.

With two minutes to play, YMCA put the game out of reach with a 3rd try in the right corner by Hill which was unconverted for a final score of 26-13.

This was an improved performance from Cleck after last week's lack lustre display, but the concession of 21 penalties and the handing over of possession too often, ultimately cost them points.

On a brighter note, Cleckheaton retained the John Bower Trophy by a narrow one point, after the aggregate totted up to 40-39 in their favour.

Next week, Cleckheaton entertain top side Morpeth.