Cleckheaton 16, Sandal 23

KICKING proved to be the difference as Cleckheaton were beaten by Sandal in National League Three North.

Both sides scored two tries but Greg Wood of Sandal added a couple of conversions and a drop goal to leave Cleck down in 11th place.

Sandal hit the ground running and won an early penalty in front of Cleckheaton's sticks. Wood obliged and then a dummy from Steve Graham allowed the No 8 to go through a gap to extend the visitors' lead to 10-0.

Cleckheaton hit back when Matt Piper put Josh Hall into space to squeeze in at the corner. Wood's drop goal was countered by a penalty from Cleck stand-off Neil Chivers but then the hosts almost self-destructed with two men in the bin within seven minutes of each other.

The home side defended manfully but third-placed Sandal added another seven points with a try from Simon Frewin before Chivers added a penalty on the stroke of half-time to reduce the arrears to 20-11.

The second half was closely contested, with Cleckheaton having extended spells on Sandal's whitewash but handling errors thwarted their efforts.

Wood added a second penalty goal for the Wakefield men but, with five minutes to go, Hall went over again in the corner for Cleckheaton.

With seven points in it, the final couple of minutes were a tense affair. Cleck made yards up the right flank but a chip over the winger was fielded comfortably by Sandal's full back and, after two more phases, Wood grubbered the ball into touch and the referee blew.