Huddersfield YMCA 12 Cleckheaton 7

Cleckheaton were not able to turn possession into points as Huddersfield’s defence proved key to victory.

The visitors elected to play with the stiff breeze at their backs for the first half but YMCA went ahead with a penalty from Gavin Stead.

A penalty kick at goal was declined at the other end as Ross Hayden went for the corner and an attacking side line-out.

The resulting maul rumbled towards the YMCA line for Rob Afoa-Petersen to peel off the side and crash over, Hayden adding the extras.

Cleck continued to have the lion’s share of possession but were unable to put together periods of continuity due to their propensity to spill the ball in contact and YMCA’s rush defence.

In a rare excursion out of their own half YMCA were awarded another penalty and again Stead banged it over.

The second half resumed with YMCA now having the advantage of the breeze and their stand-off Ed Barber used his big boot to pin Cleck back at every chance.

Stead put YMCA 9-7 up before Cleck pressure led to two kickable penalty awards.

This time Hayden elected to go for goal but inexplicably both missed their target and, to make matters worse, Stead converted another penalty for YMCA.

Cleck laid siege to the home line but everything became rushed and, while individuals made some powerful runs, particularly young Alex Dawson, there were too many handling errors.

James Wilson got over the line but lost the ball before he could ground it.

It’s often said defences win matches and this was the case for YMCA.