National League Three North: Birkenhead Park 17 Cleckheaton 22

CLECKHEATON'S seventh win in ten league matches has all but secured their safety, but they had to recover from a 17-5 half-time deficit against hosts who are virtually doomed.

Park went into the lead with a try for former club captain Dave Ibbotson after two minutes, Danny Rich converting, and then winger Matt Walls furthered his team’s advantage after Park’s forwards had caught and driven a line-out for 20 metres.

With Cleckheaton still getting the bus journey out of their system, they went further behind after Park’s large pack steered another rolling maul over the line, with Jack Ashcroft getting the ball to ground.

After half an hour, Cleckheaton were down but not out and started to secure some quality possession.

After Birkenhead illegally halted the progress of Cleckheaton’s forwards for the third time in quick succession, the referee awarded the West Yorkshiremen a penalty try, although the conversion was surprsingly missed.

The sides changed ends with Park holding a 17-5 lead in what was a crucial game for both, but Cleckheaton gave a much more controlled performance in the second half, with man of the match Jack Bickerdike marshalling the team well.

A half-break from scrum half Bickerdike was well supported by full back James Wilson, whose angled run took him all the way to the line.

Cleckheaton were now in the ascendency and piled on the pressure. The forwards set up a maul, and the backs added their weight to it as well.

The mass of Cleckheaton bodies could not be resisted, and Martin Woodhead claimed the try, Ronan Evans landing a difficult conversion to put Cleckheaton into the lead.

With ten minutes to go, Evans extended the score with a penalty goal. Park, who are now staring relegation in the face, battled to the end but the referee's full-time whistle confirmed Cleckheaton’s win.