MORPETH RFC lost 31-8 against Cleckheaton in North East One on Saturday - a result which coach Dave Reed admitted was a fair one.

Reed said: “We had three or four players missing but we were beaten by the better side.

“A few of our players did not turn up on the day, and we did not cope with the physical style."

Morpeth were already losing 17-3 by half-time, and Cleckheaton continued to punish them after the break.

A John Walton try and a penalty from Matty Jinks were their only scores, but their efforts were in vain as Wilson (2), Queeley, Hayden, and Chappelow all scored tries for the Yorkshire hosts.

Despite back-to-back defeats ,Reed is refusing to be downbeat.

He said: "To be honest, we feel when we have everybody back fit we can beat anybody.”

Morpeth are now 10th in the league, 10 points behind leaders Billingham who are on 27 points after winning five of their seven fixtures.

The table-toppers were beaten by Morpeth's next opponents Wheatley Hills, last weekend although, with first-team players expected to return, Reed's predictions could be put to the test.

He added: "Hopefully with six players back next week we are turning a corner."

However, he warned: "Wheatley Hills have a very good general kicking game and a very good goal-kicker.

“We need to be a lot more physical and get into the faces."

Morpeth’s second XV were 47-3 winners over Westoe seconds, with one try each for Carl Parkinson, Paul Jackson, Ben White-Hamilton, Adam Hall, Cas Gross and Marcus Ridley.

Elsewhere, Ashington did not have any better luck as they were beaten 53-5 at Alnwick in Durham and Northumberland One.

The defeat leaves Ashington two points off the foot of the table after losing six games in a row.

“They will be hoping for better things on Saturday as they play host to Acklam.