Cleckheaton 20 Sheffield Tigers 27

CLECKHEATON were denied a potential SSE National Three North draw against their third-placed visitors when their man of the match Richard Brown got over the line but was ruled to be held up.

The hosts had dominated the final ten minutes with a series of rolling mauls inside Sheffield Tigers' 22 but they could not level the scores.

Cleckheaton got off to good start on a Spring-like afternoon with a penalty goal from Ross Hayden after two minutes, and increased their lead when Richard Piper steered a catch and drive to the line for an unconverted try.

Tigers hit back with a series of attacks and, although Cleckheaton’s scrambling defence frustrated their initial efforts, visiting prop Ed Simmons ploughed through to score under the sticks, Tom Outram adding the conversion.

The visitors took the lead for the first time when Pete Swatkins exploited a gap to score out wide for a 12-8 advantage. However, Cleckheaton stole possession from the restart and worked the blind side to free winger Brad Marsden, who combined with Hayden for the full back to sprint in at the corner, leaving the home side 13-12 ahead at the break.

Cleckheaton looked to be on course to upset the in-form Tigers when another catch and drive six minutes into the second period resulted in Piper’s second try, Hayden judging his kick across the breeze to perfection to add the conversion.

Tigers were not going to be tamed without a fight and pinned Cleckheaton in their 22 for an extended period.

Eventually this pressure told and Outram kicked a penalty goal, and minutes later Swatkins was on hand to complete a sweeping crossfield move to score his second try and level the scores at 20-20 with 20 minutes to go.

The game then went into a period of midfield stalemate until visiting second row Josh Redfern broke through a tiring defence to score from 30 metres, Outram adding the extras.

At least Cleckheaton earned a losing bonus point, while Tigers claimed one for scoring four tries.