Sandal Cougars 20 Cleckheaton 8
Sandal took a break from League action this week welcoming Cleckheaton to Milnthorpe Green for this friendly fixture. On a windy afternoon Cleckheaton came with a large experienced pack intent on playing an ‘up the jumper’ style of rugby with little to offer out wide. Sandal’s backs however, renound for pace and agility, were first to cross the whitewash with excellent hands across the line creating the opportunity for Stef Lig to beat his opponent for the first score of the game. In a game all too frequently punctuated by the referee’s whistle, Cleckheaton’s only reply in the first half was a penalty to leave the score 5-3 to Cougars at half time. Playing up the slope in the second half, marshalled by live wire scrum half Brett Hunt, Cougars forwards started to recycle possession more frequently and from good ruck ball near Cleckheaton’s line the ball was fed blind for Damian Edge to cross in the corner. Cleckheaton found their way into Cougars 22 from the restart and from the resulting line, a catch and drive saw them score a try to bring the scores to 10-8 in Cougars favour. An Edge penalty from another whistle interruption to the game saw Cougars go 13-8 up with 10 minutes left on the clock. Perhaps the best move of the game was still to come from the Seckham brothers. Alex Seckham first, gaining possession in centre field after again good work from Cougars back row of Wild, Thurlow and Blackhurst, chipped a delightful kick towards the try line on the open side. With pace to burn for fun, brother Scott eased his way past the defence to touch down to seal the win for Sandal. Dan Hodson added the extras for a 20 points to 8 win. This was not the prettiest of games for Sandal Cougars, however showed they are able to adjust their style of play to suit the opposition they are faced with.
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