CLECKHEATON'S failure to use the slope in the first half was a contributory factor in their 27-12 defeat at Old Brodleians in their annual Boxing Day clash for the Fred Scott Memorial Trophy.

The visitors only led 7-5 at the interval on a chilly morning at Hipperholme, and Cleckheaton's coach Gordon Piper said: "We only had half a team in term of first-teamers due to a lot of injuries but at times we looked a good team.

"But they were also a good team and they know how to play their pitch, whereas we didn't play the slope well in the first half."

The scrappy opening, punctuated by misplaced passes and knock-ons, didn't help Cleckheaton, and neither did the tenth-minute sin-binning of No 8 Richard Piper, for allegedly grabbing an opponent's 'groin'.

Impressive centre Michael Briggs scored a try in the 14th minute, when the visitors were down to 14 men, only for Cleckheaton to hit back four minutes later with a try by prop Ben Thrower, which Ezra Hinchliffe, a guest from Heath who was playing fly half, converted.

There were no further points in a sometimes tetchy opening period in front of about 250 spectators, but Old Brodleians camped in the visitors' 22 when the second half began.

Briggs and deceptively quick slightly portly left winger Zack Thompson threatened in the 49th and 54th minutes before Cleckheaton debutant Dan Archer prevented Andy Finn from scoring a try by holding him up near an upright five minutes later.

Eventually the dam had to burst, however, and Zack McCombe went over in the 64th minute after good work by Breakwell and Jim Hodkinson, Breakwell's conversion making it 12-7.

Full back Tom Wilson profited with a try from a brilliant Briggs pick up three minutes later, but Cleckheaton gave themselves late hope with a Matt Wood try in the 73rd minute, which made it 17-12.

However, Brods slammed the door shut with excellent long-range tries by Finn and McCombe in the 79th and 82nd minutes.

Phil Town's break put Finn over, while Town and Joe Allen did the spadework for McCombe's try.