Cleckheaton in semis

IN the first half three well struck penalties from Cleckheaton’s Iain Gordon and one from the visitor’s fly half Donal Collins was all the teams had to show for their efforts.

In the second half Gordon was just short with a difficult penalty chance but in the final quarter Cleckheaton substitute Robin Bennett scored the game’s first try following excellent support play involving six different players. Gordon converted. Five minutes later Ross Hayden romped over and Gordon once more converted and then put the game out of Sheffield’s reach with a brilliant piece of individual skill, showing great footwork and pace to score the game’s best try which ironically he failed to convert.

Sheffield scored a late consolation try from scrum-half Matthew Poste which was converted by Collins.

Cleckheaton join holders and National One side Wharfedale in the semis. The actual draw has yet to be made with two outstanding quarter-finals involving Huddersfield and Bradford & Bingley and Hull and Beverley yet to be played.

See a full match report in this week’s Spenborough Guardian