Hull Ionians 10 Cleckheaton 5

Cleckheaton travelled east hoping to build on their well-earned win at Leicester Lions, but Hull Ionians came out on top in a low-scoring National League Three North game.

With some early pressure from Ionians and tension in both packs, the hosts had an early penalty, which put them into Cleckheaton's 22.

However, some good defending kept them at bay, and in the tenth minute Ryan Duckett broke upfield from the 22 into the Hull half and passed to prop Steve Johnson out wide, who in turn gave John Bentley a try-scoring pass, fly half Chris Quinn's kick going wide in a strong crosswind.

Loose play by Cleckheaton let Ionians back into the game and the visitors had to defend their line.

However, in the 20th minute a breach occurred and Richard Moorhouse went over in the corner for a try, his kick also sailing wide in the wind.

With the man in the middle not having the best of games, this was a stop-start affair.

Ionians kept up the pressure and had a chance to go further in front on the half-hour only for the ball to go to ground.

Ten minutes later the referee finally got his card out and binned Ionians' captain Mike Cawthorn after an earlier warning to both sides.

Cleckheaton started the second half on the back foot and, but for some strong defending and Quinn's clearance kick, Ionians would have been in.

But instead the score came in the 50th minute when the defence again gave way, letting Mick Watson in for a try, Moorhouse's kick again going wide.

The game boiled over once more in the 57th minute, which resulted in both Watson and Bentley going to the sin-bin.

Ionians had the best of the play for most of the second half and, but for some resilience by Cleckheaton, should have scored.

In the dying minutes, Cleckheaton had a chance to steal the game with a strong break by Bentley, only for him to be halted on the 22.

Cleckheaton will have to be on their mettle next Saturday as unbeaten Preston Grasshoppers - 38-13 winners over Morley - are at Moorend.