National League Three North: Cleckheaton 44, Burnage 20

CLECKHEATON got their first win of the campaign and also picked up a bonus point against bottom club Burnage.

It is too early in the season to start labelling matches as 'must-win' games but it felt very much like this fixture fell into that category for both teams.

Cleckheaton got off to the best possible start, with loose-head prop Paul Turner going in for a try inside five minutes, centre Josh Hall, stepping into the kicking role in his first start for the club, adding the conversion.

Tight-head prop Andy Piper then added to the front row tally, going over from short range, Hall missing the conversion but adding a penalty to stretch Cleckheaton's lead.

Rhys Evans clawed back three points for Burnage with a penalty goal 25 minutes in but any hopes of a revival were crushed when Jack Bickerdike scooted over for Cleckheaton's third try, Matt Piper converting, Andy Piper adding his second try and Cleckheaton's fourth ten minutes to secure a bonus point.

Cleckheaton led 27-3 at the break but it wasn't long before the home side's new electronic scoreboard was in action again, with Andy Ashcroft going over for the visitors shortly after the restart, Evans converting.

However, the hosts restored that 24-point margin a minute later when Jack Seddon scored and Hall converted.

With the points safely banked, Cleck started to play a more expansive game and winger Sam Walker grabbed a brace of tries, neither of which was converted.

With 15 minutes to go and Cleckheaton in a commanding 44-10 lead, the home side let their concentration lapse and Burnage capitalised with two consolation tries for David Hopkins.