CLECKHEATON put in a blistering last 15 minutes to not only claim a bonus-point 43-13 win at Huddersfield YMCA but also lift the John Bower Trophy for the aggregate score between the teams in their two North One East league matches.
The visitors welcomed back Lee Queeley and Andy Piper but were without Ryan Piercy and Mikey Hayward as well as, after illness on the day, flanker Josh Plunkett.
Cleckheaton were quickly out of their blocks and controlled possession, allowing Ben Thrower to score within two minutes.
Stalwart defence from Paul Turner and vice-captain Luke Pearson, plus the back row of Brad Marsden, Joey Carley and Jack Seddon, kept YMCA at bay before visiting scrum half Jack Bickerdike went over after a show, with Mike Swetman converting from in front of the sticks.
Player-coach Thiu Barnard had to leave the pitch with a calf strain with seven minutes left in the half but Gavin Stead put over two penalties to make the half-time score 12-6.
Swetman added a penalty goal eight minutes into the second half before he converted Seddon's try.
Leading 22-6, Cleckheaton seemed to have the upper hand but then Turner was sin-binned and YMCA responded with a converted try.
A stand-out tackle by winger Grant Fitzsimmons buoyed the visitors and their man of the match then scored the bonus-point try.
Two more tries came Cleckheaton's way in the last ten minutes via James Wilson, from a training ground move, and Queeley, with Swetman landing all three conversions.
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