SSE National League Three North: Morley 25, Cleckheaton 10

AN EMOTIONAL week that included the funeral of their president Alan Bentley ended with a derby defeat at Scatcherd Lane.

The visitors' first loss in the league since mid-November came as the Maroons kick-started their fight to retain their National League Three North status.

An early sign that this could be Morley's day came within five minutes. Tom Richmond, desperately reaching out for the whitewash, looked to have dropped the ball but the referee, unsighted by a post protector, awarded a try, Luke Stevenson's easy conversion making it 7-0.

Cleckheaton responded with an unconverted try for Richard Piper, following a catch and drive that proved irresistible from ten metres out but Morley extended their narrow advantage when confusion in Cleckheaton's defensive line allowed Morley centre Brad Marshall to complete a run to the corner.

Stevenson's conversion attempt was wide but the fly half made amends with a penalty goal a few minutes later.

Cleckheaton hit back again following the sin-binning of Paul Gabriel, when another set-piece by their powerful pack led to Piper's second try and a half-time score of 15-10.

Morley got the second period off to good start when Andy Funnell dived in at the corner, Stevenson adding a difficult conversion. Cleckheaton dominated possession and territory for the next 20 minutes, and Morley's defensive line came under intense pressure time and again but would not yield.

The visitors eventually conceded possession with an infringement or a handling error, and Morley sealed the game with another penalty goal from Stevenson to give themselves a 15-point lead which remained intact as the last ten minutes were played out.

This was not the best performance from Cleckheaton but Morley will rightly take much heart from the impressive defensive commitment they showed in the second half to keep the visitors out.