Under 15s win at Cleckheaton

The under 15s began the season in convincing style with an emphatic victory away at Cleckheaton.

The Bees began well and spent the majority of the first quarter in the Cleckheaton 22, but a series of turnovers and penalties allowed the home side to relieve the pressure.

Eventually, however, the Bees got themselves on the scoreboard when winger, Luke Duffy, squeezed in at the corner with an intelligent piece of play going under the would-be tackles.

The Bees then had to show their defensive prowess as Cleckheaton enjoyed their best spell of the match. Tackles were continually made as Cleckheaton never really threatened the Bees line. Connor Murphy led the way in defence.

Although the Bees were not having it all their own way at the breakdown, the efforts of Mark Atkinson, Joe Jagger and Joe Boardman in the forwards set up a platform to put the away side back on the front foot.

Shortly thereafter Joe Jagger had to leave the field with an injured shoulder. That, however, did not weaken the team as it might in the past, as it allowed sub Jake Gray to take the field. His impact was spectacular as he first plunged over from a five metre penalty; and then made a seventy metre break, including a sidestep off his left foot to go round the full back to score. Unfortunately the conversion was again missed, to leave the score 15 - 0.

The last score of the first half came with Cleckheaton again exerting pressure in the Bees half. Hooker, Mark Atkinson, sensibly cleared the ball out of the danger area. A good kick was made even better by the excellent kick-chase of centre, Alexander Leadbeater, who was first to the ball and who then drew the full back before sending captain, Ryan McNicholl, clear to the posts. Louis Wilkinson converted to leave the Bees 22 - 0 ahead at half time.

If the visitors thought they had done well in the first half they improved in the second half. The whole team should be extremely proud of their ball handling skills throughout the second half, as they ran in some excellent tries. The players should not underestimate their achievements and levels of skill as the Cleckheaton players never gave in, and put in some excellent tackles of their own. The level of effort from the home side was best illustrated by the fact that they had the last word on the scoreboard with a try in the last minute from their only spell of pressure in the second half.

However, before then the Bees had run in five more tries of their own. Jake Gray completed his hat-trick with another scintillating run to score under the posts. Captain, Ryan McNicholl, scored his second try after breaking from the halfway line, and he also touched down under the posts. Louis Wilkinson converted both tries.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the performance was the handling skills of all the players, as the team looked to offload in the tackle and keep the ball alive. Two such pieces of handling gave left wing, Harry Lynch, a couple of opportunities, which he took with aplomb. On both occasions he used his pace to great effect to go round the defence and score in the left corner. Sadly, neither try could be converted.

The scoring for the Bees fittingly concluded with Jake Gray crossing for his fourth try after a weaving run through the heart of the Cleckheaton defence. Louis Wilkinson converted the try to leave the Bees victors by 53 points to 5.