Late try means Cleckheaton's hoodoo continues at Northern

Northern continue to hold the hoodoo over Cleckheaton and blazed in for a late try to seal a deserved SSE North One East victory yesterday.

Cleckheaton never seemed to be able to find top gear and fell 8-0 behind by the interval courtesy of penalty goal and an unconverted try, which was driven over by the Northern pack from a line-out on Cleckheaton's five-metre line.

The visitors hit back in the second period through James Wilson, however, the winger pouncing on a loose ball that had ricocheted off several players.

Northern then extended their advantage with a try in the left corner following a very well-executed kick-chase move from the back of a scrum.

Cleckheaton responded with a great try of their own after a break from Ollie Akroyd in his own 22 and a jinking run from Ross Hayden allowed Matt Piper to put Johnno Marshall through a gap to go in under the sticks.

The conversion closed the score to 13-12 to the home side, which they later extended via a drop goal.

With just over five minutes left of normal time, Cleckheaton were pushing hard at Northern's line and were threatening to score a try and take the lead for the first time.

Unfortunately the ball was spilled along the back line and Northern's speedy wingman gathered it, and with excellent support from his loose-head prop and open-side flanker, Northern went almost the full length of the field for the decisive try.

Cleckheaton are still looking for their first win at Northern since the two sides started playing each other again three seasons ago.