CLECKHEATON will be hoping that a decent display will for once bring due reward as they meet Penrith at Moorend in National Three North tomorrow, with the early start of 2.15pm.
In the last two weeks, Cleckheaton have shown considerable spirit, en
terprise and determination but each time have had to settle for narrow defeats against higher-placed teams.
The side are playing well but supporters would probably settle simply for a scratchy win to help move the club up the table.
Steve Worsley returns at hooker with Richard Piper dropping into the back row. Coach Dave Harrison explained there was some concern about the lineout and the throwing of the more experienced Worsley could be effective.
Ryan Piercy, who has had business commitments, also returns to help bulk up the pack, which may well be welcome if grounds continue to be heavy. There is the aim of bringing Lance Hamilton off the bench as an impact player, after he has missed some training, again because of work.
Harrison remarked: “We need Ryan’s work-rate and bulk and, while Lance hasn’t always been able to train, he will get plenty of game time. We expect Penrith, as usual to be a big side. It will be a surprise if they aren’t.”
The side earned a great deal of praise for their efforts in the County Cup against National League club Huddersfield last Saturday when the visitors certainly took the game seriously with a strong, competitive team.
Harrison was pleased with the performance and remarked: “We perhaps showed them too much respect in the first half. They had a big kicker at No 10 and their kick-and-chase game was very good, even so we conceded a couple of relatively soft tries.
“But we gave them plenty of problems in the second half and kept them well pinned down against the wind to win the half. One of the great features of the game from the club’s point of view was that 10 of the players were aged 21 or under and many have come through the ranks, which is very encouraging.”
One of the youngsters was 18-year-old Matt Beasty, who played his first senior game in the second row. Harrison enthused: “He certainly didn’t look out of place and did exactly what we asked of him. He competed in lineouts and we asked him to make some rushes and he did that in spades.”
Beasty has been rewarded with a place on the bench tomorrow and seems set to have more experience at senior level.
An honourable exception to the youth policy last Saturday was stalwart, 45-year-old Neil Gillan, who is giving great service to the Kestrels but went on in the latter stages against Huddersfield.
He emerged with the biggest smile at Moorend as he scored Cleckheaton’s second try. Incredibly, his last try for the first XV, was on November 16, 2002, in a 34-7 league win against Huddersfield, which suggests they will be very wary of him if they are at Moorend in November 2016.
Penrith are in mid-table yet their record shows they have a habit of cutting loose if they get on top.
