Billingham 17 Cleckheaton 7

CLECKHEATON, playing into the wind in the first half, had few opportunities to build pressure on Billingham in their SSE National League Three North clash. 

The home side used the elements to their advantage to pin the visitors in their own half of the field, and a quick tap penalty and good hands from the men from Teesside created the space for Elliot Husband to open the scoring on 20 minutes.

This was followed by another try from Liam Armstrong ten minutes later, Pete Evans converted one of the two touchdowns to give Billingham a 12-0 lead at the break.

Cleckheaton started the second half with some fire in their bellies and took the game to the opposition.

A line-out close to Billingham's line following a Cleckheaton penalty was driven over, with Richard Piper getting the ball down and Ross Hayden adding the extras.

However, a rare defensive lapse allowed Matty Kirkby to go over for an unconverted try for Billingham to make it 17-7.

For the majority of the last 20 minutes, Cleckheaton battered Billingham's line, with a host of willing runners going in time and time again but to give the home side their due, they did not yield and secured the four league points.