National League Three North: Cleckheaton 19 Sheffield 20

A CONVERTED penalty try six minutes into stoppage time ripped a victory from Cleckheaton's grasp, leaving the hosts rueing their indiscipline, which led to three sin-binnings and all of Sheffield's points.

After an evenly contested opening 15 minutes, a small break through the line from Ronan Evans, followed by quick hands, gave Lee Queeley space to round his opposite winger for a try in the corner, Evans adding the difficult conversion.

Jonny France put Sheffield on the board with a penalty but, five minutes from the break, Jack Bickerdike seized on a mistake at the back of a Sheffield scrum, scooped up the loose ball and sprinted over for an unconverted try.

As a result of a small flurry of handbags and chatter following the score, Cleckheaton No 8 Richard Piper was sin-binned but Cleckheaton led 12-3 at the break.

Cleckheaton's defence looked superior, while Sheffield were having a lacklustre day but the penalty and sin-binning of home prop Paul Turner on 55 minutes gave France another shot at goal, which he converted.

Further indiscretions from 14-man Cleckheaton gave the visitors field position and momentum for winger Joe McHale to squeeze in at the corner, France adding the extras to give Sheffield a 13-12 lead.

However, determined Cleckheaton hit back and, with their opponents now conceding penalties - a catch and drive in Sheffield's 22 was illegally felled - Cleckheaton opted for a quick tap and set up a rolling maul, Ryan Piercy muscling his way over from the back for Evans to convert.

With only a few minutes of normal time left, it looked like Cleckheaton were heading for victory when Tom Austin put in a massive hit to turn over possession.

Unfortunately they put the ball out on the full from the resulting scrum, and Sheffield were gifted possession deep into Cleckheaton's territory.

Scrambling defence seemed to be keeping Sheffield at bay but, in their desperation, Cleckheaton were deemed guilty of not releasing the tackled player and Austin picked up their third yellow card.

With the 80 minutes up, Sheffield opted for a scrum and, after four more penalties and re-scrummages, the referee lost his patience and awarded a penalty try, the easy conversion giving Sheffield the game at 20-19.