Players stick with Cleckheaton for new campaign
CLECKHEATON RU club start their season in North East One tomorrow with an intriguing game against West Hartlepool at Moorend (3pm). It is a return to a league that Cleckheaton last played in eight years ago and there will be keen interest in how the Moorenders fare at regional level after their experiences in the National ranks.
It says much for the club's efforts to develop team spirit that so many of last season's squad have stayed on, with only Matt Burrows and Lance Hamilton leaving, while other players have been happy to join and the club have a full programme for four open age teams, which is again exceptional, particularly compared with many other clubs in the county.
Prop Paul Turner is again captain and his experience will clearly be important, while the rapidly improving Richard Piper is pack leader.
There is an interesting newcomer in Dave Freeman, a 6ft 7in lock from Heath and the Royal Navy, who should certainly help solve many of the the lineout problems which have dogged the team intermittently in recent seasons. Returning to Moorend are Grant Turton and Tom Brook.
Prop Danny Furniss has joined from Huddersfield, while experienced prop Carl Mason and scrum-half Dominic Castle will play when business and family commitments allow.
The presence of Iain Gordon at stand-off in the Yorkshire Cup win at Pontefract suggests that assistant coach Pete Murphy will be able to play in his preferred position of centre and they are named in those positions for tomorrow.
Gordon also kicked well at goal with three penalties and two conversions so he could again take on this important role as he did in the later games of last season with Ross Hayden as useful back-up and Murphy also on hand.
Winger Joe Massarella is set to leave for Italy, where he is hoping to play senior level rugby, but in the meantime will be available for Cleckheaton.
There should be plenty of competition for places with the likes of Olly Depledge, Matt Piper, Ed Chapellow, Mitch Ashworth, Craig Blackburn, Nathan Clayton and Matt Beasty seeking regular first team spots and coach Dave Harrison may be able to weigh up his options.
Cleckheaton and West Hartlepool finished in the bottom two places of National Three North last term to ensure their relegation. Their two league meetings were close affairs with West Hartlepool winninng
18-15 at Moorend but Cleckheaton gaining revenge with a 22-16 success in the return fixture.
It is ironic that a return to regional level brings Cleckheaton more travel this time with four trips to the Newcastle area, one to Carlisle, one to Durham and two to Hartlepool.
There are also some promising derby fixtures with Old Brods, Old Corssleyans and Pontefract sure to provide keen rivalry along with Wheatley Hills and Driffield.
Cleckheaton have had a difficult three or four seasons but the club have adapted and are now setting a sound base from which they intend to develop on and off the field. This could be a very interesting year at Moorend
CLECKHEATON RUFC TEAMS
1st XV v West Hartlepool, ko 3pm, meet 1.30pm: J Wilson, C Blackburn, P Murphy, M PIper, R Hayden, I George, O Depledge, P Turner, S Worsley, A Piper, G Turton, D Freeman, N Clayton, R Piercy, R Piper. Reps: J Toulson, T Brook, D Furness,
Kestrels at Dinnington, ko 3pm, meet 12.45pm: T Clapham, R Carbutt, A Bullen, M Ashworth, L Bashforth, G Lamb, J Massarella, C Piper, R Motlieb, N Gillan, N Holland, M Beasty, E Chappelow, M Sargeant, S Quinn. Reps: C Davis, C Mason, B Thrower, T Clough, A Stanley.
Third XV at Thornesians, ko 3pm, meet 1.15pm: A Smith, C Simpson, S Smith, D Terry, R Birkett, J Duggan, J Walker, G Raine, J Porritt, M Sowden, M Wood, M Womersley, R Simpson, J BLessic, M Terry. Reps: A Corfield, A Smith.
Fourth XV v Old Brodleians, ko 3pm, Meet 2.15pm: D Burton, J Firth, C Aspinall, M Nicholson, A Tilby-Baxter, A Foster, A Robinson, L Goldthorpe, S Fletcher, A Womersley, D Webb, I Webb, G Dixon. N Lazenby. A Lowe, C Thompson, A Brown.
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
