Cleckheaton 24 Darlington 48

Cleckheaton started this National League Three North game hoping to build on the last few weeks' form but Darlington had other ideas.

The game started well for the hosts when, from the kick-off, they retained the ball and two minutes later winger Tom Lauriston went over in the corner for a try.

Cleckheaton were back in Darlington's 22 three minutes later, the ball going crossfield for James Rushforth to break the whitewash, Chris Quinn's conversion going over this time.

But the home side, who were already without Mark Billington due to illness, then lost Oliver Akroyd for the same reason.

Darlington then rallied and only strong defending kept them at bay until the 29th minute when Paul Lee crashed through the defence and what looked like a knock-on at the line was given as a try, Lee Davis converting an easy kick.

Darlington were in front five minutes later. From a line-out, the pack drove Michael Taylor over for a try, Davis converting to put the visitors 14-12 ahead.

Cleckheaton defended well up to half-time but in the dying mins of the half they had Akroyd's replacement Neil Gillan sinbinned.

Darlington made the best of the extra man early in the second half and bagged two pushover tries without reply from Cleckheaton.

And things got worse on the hour when the hosts had a frustrated John Dudley sin-binned.

With Cleckheaton again a man down, Darlington collected two more tries - one from a pushover and the other from Martin Howe - Davis converting both.

Late in the half, Cleckheaton rallied and a deep run from Tom Gwilliam put them on the edge of Darlington's 22 in the 72nd minute.

At this juncture, Darlington had Paul Shepherd sent to the bin and, from a drive, the ball went crossfield for Rushforth to cross three minutes later for his second try.

However, Cleckheaton let their defence slip again late and in the 78th and 80th minutes, Alan Brown and Richard Snowball crossed for tries, Davis converting the latter.

Nevertheless, Cleckheaton had the last word when a run from scrum half Dominic Castle sent centre Neil Murray in for a bonuspoint try, Quinn's conversion making it 48-24.

Cleckheaton's Alan Bentley said: "The result was a great disappointment after a week of positive build-up. We went 12-0 ahead and then stopped tackling and Darlington are a good side and didn't let us off the hook."