Harrogate suffered their sixth successive defeat, losing 33-16 in the Powergen National Trophy to Cleckheaton, who last season knocked them out of the Yorkshire Cup.

Much of Harrogate's torment was self-inflicted, with turnover ball conceded too easily, too many missed tackles and indiscipline.

For the third game in a row Harrogate found themselves playing catch-up rugby and never looked like winning.

Cleckheaton, under the guidance of John Bentley and Harrogate's old war horse lock John Dudley, were 15-0 ahead within the half-hour.

Mark Billington's long pass exposed the Harrogate defence for Tom Lauriston to cross and then No 8 Oliver Akroyd scored. Glenn Boyd added the extras and landed a penalty before prop Rob Wilson opened Harrogate's account. It stayed at 15-5 until half-time.

Six minutes into the second half Harrogate stand-off Mike Aspinall spilled the ball and former British Lion Bentley took an inside pass then coasted between the posts from 30 metres to give Boyd an easy conversion.

Harrogate brought on Kiwi stand-off Chris Brown and he landed a penalty within four minutes but it was cancelled out by one from Boyd.

Maifea Maifea plunged over for Harrogate and Boyd and Brown exchanged penalties and then Harrogate hooker Mark Erven was sent off for throwing a punch.

Dudley was driven over for a try to complete the scoring.

Updated: 11:12 Monday, October 17, 2005