Nobody watching could begrudge the Yorkshiremen the points but had we converted one of numerous second half chances and not gifted a try 10 minutes from time things could have been very different.

Frustratingly the hard-working defensive displays that had not conceded a try in the previous two games couldn't be repeated with Cleckheaton's forwards gaining ground at will with the pick and go and always looking threatening in broken play.

Paul Moss opened the scoring with an early penalty but Cleckheaton took the lead thanks to a try from flanker Lance Hamilton on 13 minutes, Ross Hayden missing the conversion.

Moss nudged West back into the lead 4 minutes later with another penalty but Hayden missed two chances from almost the same spot in two minutes to leave Cleck still trailing by a point.

West first try came with probably their best passage of play in the match on 24 minutes. Adam Howard made an initial burst before Colin Cheslin broke free, splitting the defence and offloading to Tom Dixon who finished well. Moss couldn't add the conversion but there was a little bit of daylight between the teams for the first time.

But 5 minutes before the break Cleckheaton went back in-front, centre Tom Lauriston touching down for a try converted by new kicker Owen Edwards.

The West players looked low on confidence but, only a point down at the interval, they should have been reasonably happy given the amount of possession the visitors had enjoyed without converting it into many points.

However the second half turned into a nervy affair with both teams showing the tension of the must-win game. West spent a long period in the Cleck 22, were twice held up over the line but somehow failed to score as frustration began to mount.

Thid Cleckheaton kicker of the afternoon Tom Clough? added a penalty on the hour and then with 10 minutes to go came the crucial moments of the match. West were on the attack in the 22 but the ball was turned over and cleared up-field by Cleckheaton. Stu Waites, starting the game in place of Darren Thomas, collected but skewed his return kick and the visitors counter-attacked in fine style, moving the ball to the left wing and then back to the right with Joe Massarella finishing off. The conversion was successful and pushed Cleck 11 points clear.

West weren't quite done yet though and went straight on the attack, generating an overlap on the right which Gareth Kerr exploited to score on his return form injury but a failed conversion from Moss left West needing a converted try to win with only 7 minutes to play.

The best opportunity came straight from the kick-off with space on the left which Kerr and Colin Cheslin used well to move play into the Cleckheaton half but the ball was turned over and Andrew Davies harshly penalised for going off his feet when referee Steve Penfold had allowed fierce competition at the breakdown throughout the game. After that West never looked like generating a winning score and had to settle for a losing bonus point which, although keeping us off the bottom of the table, is slim consolation.

We are now 14 points from safety and needing something of a great escape to preserve National League rugby for next season. Next week's trip to Penrith looks a little more daunting after their victory over league leaders Morley and following that will be a real do-or-die clash against Rochdale with a loss in that one surely cementing our place in the bottom three.

One positive note for West was the impact of Liam Bailey off the bench, the flanker looking particularly sharp in his ten minute spell at the end of the game.



West: C Cheslin, Waites, Kerr, Connolly, A Cheslin, Moss, Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, Greenwell (Bailey), Davies, T Dixon, D Boatman, Garside (Rudd), Howard.

Tries: T Dixon, Kerr
Pens: Moss 2

Cleckheaton: Hayden, Masseralla, Lauriston, Murphy, Ashworth, Edwards, Castle, Turner, Worsley, A Piper, Piercy, Mason, R Piper, Hamilton, Burrows.
Reps: Goodwin, Gordon, Clough

Tries: Hamilton, Lauriston, Masseralla
Cons: Edwards, Gordon
Pen: Gordon

Referee: Steve Penfold [North Group]