CLECKHEATON RFC 0 v DMPRFC 20

Hopes were high after a good midweek preparation that Park could take all the points on offer at Cleckheaton, who like us, had shown intermittent form to this stage.

On the pitch for his debut, Robin Etough, at centre, joined with, for his first appearance of the season player/coach Peter Taylor at lock and it was the latter who broke the deadlock before oranges, storming his way over from close range after a series of pick and drives from the forwards.

There had been opportunities prior to that to open the scoring, however Park failed to capitalise on good field positions on several occasions and suffered a few jitters in the handling department.

Cleckheaton competed well in the forward exchanges, but apart from some decent handling and kicking from their full back and brother of our own Charlie Massarella, they offered little or nothing in their back division, which seemed to be void of some familiar faces.

Park were the only team in it really, even when reduced to thirteen on the field either side of oranges, with Ryan Painter and Dan Squire occupying the sin bin, for holding on and offside respectively. Cleckheaton themselves had a player sin binned, but somehow never looked like troubling the scoreboard at any stage.

Further tries from forwards Ralph Appleby, who broke free out of a ruck and Mace Poloie, who bullocked his way over simalarly, with a conversion and penalty from Ritchie Young, who had joined the fray after Matt Goforth had retired, added to Park’s tally.

Several attempts to gain the bonus point were thwarted, mainly in frustration, but Park ran out worthy winners, with no complaints from the Cleckheaton faithful, who as always were decent hosts.