From the moment of running out on to the pitch we seemed to lack the drive and spark which had been so evident in the final quarter against Rochdale. Defensive lapses proved costly and in attack we struggled to generate any territory and consequently were forced to run from deep.

Paul Moss had got us off to the perfect start, stroking over a penalty awarded right from the kick off, perhaps harshly, for a deliberate knock-on.

Things started to go wrong on 8 minutes when a frustrated Jon Boatman lashed out after being penalised and was rightly yellow carded by referee Simon Lazenby. By the time he returned to the field the hosts had added 15 points. Ritchie Young slotted over the original penalty before number 8 Dan Squire galloped over for a try from the base of a scrum on the 22. Young missed the conversion but was back in action only 2 minutes later to convert a try from Ben Seru, the wingman finishing off a nice counter attacking move after a skewed clearance kick.

With Boatman back we launched our first real attack of the game, kicking a penalty to the corner and rolling the maul up to the line where Andrew Dixon peeled off to score. Moss made no mistake with the conversion and we were back in the game at 10-15.

But as the first half moved into it's last 5 minutes Mowden pushed play into the 22 and after a couple of surges for the line referee Lazenby awarded a penalty try, seemingly for hands in the ruck. It was a crucial score and left us with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Needing to start the second period well we did just the opposite. Inside the first two minutes Young slid round his opposite number Moss for Mowden's fourth try and the conversion opened up an unassailable lead.

Mowden's gameplan then became a territorial one, keeping us pinned back and despite some good runs from deep by Darren Thomas and Scott Jordan we just couldn't get into the positions to score any points. Young added another penalty to extend the lead to 20 points although a comeback never really looked likely.

Whilst not offering that much in attack it will be the defensive performance that leaves both players and coaches frustrated after this game. The 10 first half points should have been enough to still have been in the game at half time and we certainly should have made Mowden work harder for all of their tries.

Cleckheaton's win moves them back to the front of the chasing pack behind Rochdale and Rossendale, our opponents next week. It's another big game and if we are to be competitive in it, we must be fired up for a big defensive effort.


West: Wilson (Thomas), A Cheslin, Hodgson, Connolly, Jordan, Moss, Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, Howard, T Dixon, Davies, Rudd (Greenwell), D Boatman (Bailey), J Boatman.

Try: A Dixon
Con: Moss
Pen: Moss
Sin-bin: J Boatman, Jordan

Mowden Park: Lister, Eatough, Massarella, Hodgson, Seru, Young, Andrew Seddon, Miller, Murray, Appleby, Taylor, Wilson, Pearson, G Seddon, Squire.
Reps: Evans, Tonkin, Andy Seddon.

Tries: Squire, Seru, Penalty, Young
Cons: Young 2
Pens: Young 2West couldn't repeat their victorious performance from last week, putting in a poor display against local rivals Darlington Mowden Park.

Referee: Simon Lazenby