With Chris Waddell, Craig Tomlinson and lead try scorer Adrian McKeown all missing, 17-year-old Nico Briggs made 1st XV debut on the wing.

Rockcliff were their own worst enemies as poor handling and playing too predictive rugby cost them a game that they, for the majority, were in control of.

Acklam started well with several excursions into Rockcliff 22 and the pressure told as Rockcliff gave away a penalty in front of the posts, which they converted for 3–0 after five minutes.

Acklam's backs were running hard at the Rockcliff defence and could have scored on several occasions, but stand off Andrew Webster nullified this with some excellent tackling.

Rockcliff moved through the gears and after a few phases found themselves just inside the Acklam half.

Scrum half Simon Ford picked at the base of a scrum and broke down the blind side.

He raced to the line but was tackled by the openside winger who had covered across and put in a try saving tackle on the five metre line.

The supporting figure of winger Stu Thomson won the ball but a short pass to captain Drew Hayton on the crash going wide was unfortunately lost forward in the tackle.

Acklam missed a sitter of a penalty kick in front of the posts after thirty minutes and as he first half closed Rockcliff spent five minutes camped on their own line.

The Acklam number 8 ran through on the crash bearing towards the try line but Neil Mather came to the rescue with a great diving tackle and forced a knock on.

As the second half opened Acklam had a penalty in front of the posts but missed wide left.

On 50 minutes Noel Mather tackled an Acklam player inside the Acklam 22 forcing a penalty, and Rockcliff opted to take a scrum.

Number eight Ross Higginson picked up and drove towards the try line but was stopped just short.

Acklam missed another penalty in front of posts but Rockcliff continued to hold the upper hand overall and on 75 minutes Simon Ford took a quick tap penalty but was high tackled, and from the scrum Rock pushed over the try line.

The scrum broke up and the Acklam openside came offside to kill the ball, but the referee decided to give Rockcliff another scrum rather than a penalty try.