An evenly-contested first-half in which both sides had periods of pressure saw Cleckheaton nudge into the lead after 23 minutes, stand-off Iain Gordon having already gone wide with a penalty chance. A penalty kicked top the corner gave them the opportunity to catch and drive the lineout and despite stubborn defence by City, No.8 Oliver Akroyd finally got the touchdown for a 5 – 0 lead which might have been extended a couple of times if wingers Martin Woodhead and James Watson had been able to ground chips ahead to the in-goal area.
But with only one score in it at the interval, it was anybody’s game. City stand-off Arnie Stevenson kicked a penalty 2 minutes after the re-start, but 10 minutes later Cleckheaton extended their lead to 12 – 3 when they drove infield from a lineout and flanker Richard Piper scored for Gordon to convert.
But back came City with a second Stevenson penalty and some long periods of pressure were met by rock-solid Cleckheaton defence and occasional flashes of attacking flair that thehome side were never able to produce.
The final 5 minutes saw Cleckheaton defending their line and 12 – 6 lead desperately as City threw everything at them going for a try and conversion to win the game. But the visitors’ line held - and then came the heartbreak for City in the last play as they lost the ball attacking from a quickly-taken penalty and Cleckheaton swept upfield for replacement winger Craig Blackburn to take the final pass and race home for their third try from 40 metres.
Gordon converted to give his side a win they deserved overall, but with a somewhat flattering final scoreline of 19 – 6.
Tomorrow, City travel to Morley for their re-arranged League match (KO 2.15pm)
CITY: Rob Smith; Conor Lavery, Chris Metcalfe, Paddy Dias, Owen Hughes; Arnie Stevenson, Thomas Howard; Adam Armstrong, Colin Hogg, Mark Cammiss, Alex Whitfield, Darren McKinnon, Nicholas Gandilhon, Jeff Roberts, Peter Dent (c).
Replacements: Neil Hart, John Reay, Liam Wilson.