National League Three North: Firwood Waterloo 33 Cleckheaton 7

BOTH sides had little to play for in their last game of the season, with Cleckheaton already assured of safety with victories in eight of their last 11 matches and Waterloo vying for third place, well behind champions Sheffield Tigers and play-off bound Wirral.

Despite this, they provided an entertaining game, throwing the ball around on a warm spring day in Liverpool. Waterloo opened the scoring after 15 minutes through inside centre Ollie Jacques, but Cleckheaton mounted a concerted response, although they could not convert their lion's share of possession into any points.

With less than five minutes left in the half, a speculative kick through from Loo appeared to go too far as it bobbled well into the in-goal area.

What appeared to be easy touchdown and 22 drop-out for Cleckheaton turned to a calamity, however, as the visitors' full back slipped over trying to tap the ball down, and Waterloo got an opportunist try, thus leading 14-0 at the interval.

However, the second half started brightly for Cleckheaton and they put pressure on Loo's line but again the last pass or drive saw the ball come loose or get turned over.

Waterloo were playing an expansive game and eventually found a way through Cleckheaton's defence with a flowing move, finished off by Matt Crowe.

A few minutes later, Crowe went in again to give the scoreboard a one-sided look at 28-0.

Cleckheaton did not capitulate, however, and took the game to their opponents in the forwards.

The tactic paid dividends as scrum half Jack Bickerdike went over to prevent Cleckheaton being nilled. With the last play of the game Waterloo scored again to seal a 33-7 victory.