OLD Brodleians, unrecognisable from the team that lost at home to Bradford Salem seven weeks ago in the Yorkshire Shield, notched a shock 25-24 derby victory at Cleckheaton on Boxing Day.

Anyone who says that club matches do not mean anything should have seen Brods’ players shouting, screaming and leaping into each other’s arms at the final whistle.

The visitors deserved their victory for a display of committed tackling but the hosts, who gave away too many penalties and made too many handling errors, still had an opportunity to win it with the last kick of the match.

But Michael Piper, who put the Moorenders back in the contest with some pin-point crossfield kicks, did not strike the shot at goal cleanly in the fifth minute of injury time and the ball fell beneath the crossbar.

Cleckheaton full back Ross Hayden had to hurriedly clear his lines in the tenth minute under severe pressure from the visitors, who took the lead eight minutes later when left winger Jasper Ayrton got the ball down in the corner, despite the best efforts of opposite number Lee Queeley.

Greg Roper, who missed the conversion, added a 26th-minute penalty to give the Yorkshire Division One side an 8-0 lead.

The hosts, who play two divisions higher, lost prop Alex Dawson with a cut above an ear before half-time, Queeley then almost getting in at the corner.

Tom Andrews extended the Hipperholme club’s lead a minute into the second half Rugby Union when he intercepted Josh White’s pass, Roper converting and adding a penalty five minutes later as the advantage stretched to 18-0.

Two tries for Queeley in four minutes just before the hour mark – the first from swift hands and the second via a Piper kick – brought Cleckheaton back into it, Piper converting the second to reduce the deficit to six points.

However, hooker Perry Wilson broke through four tackles in the 59th minute to score Brods’ third try, Roper converting to make it 25-12.

But the result was thrown into doubt again as Cameron Burnhill showed some fancy footwork to cross in the 67th minute and Hayden followed him nine minutes later after another kick to the right corner by Piper.

The latter player converted Burnhill’s try but did not strike the ball so sweetly when it came to that vital last-ditch penalty, leaving Brods happy and worthy winners.

There was also a large crowd at BAILDON, where Bradford Salem – who play one division higher – won 43-19 to preserve their unbeaten record for the second half of 2014.

Salem’s tries came from Ryan Smith (2), Andy Robinson, Ryan McKessar, guest Damien Pearson, Dan Snowden and Sam Butterfield, with conversions added by Robinson (2), Pearson and Chris Clough.

Baildon responded with tries by Craig Woodhall (2) and guest Jake Duxbury, who landed two conversions.