HAVING gone up a division this season, Cleckheaton are delighted with how they are coping in SSE National League Three North.

The North One East champions are sixth in the fourth tier, and their president Alan Bentley said: "We are pleasantly surprised at how we are doing because we didn't particularly recruit in the summer, although we signed Callum Thompson and Danny Vento."

Cleckheaton, who are at bottom club Beverley on Saturday, will again have their squad strength tested.

Bentley added: "We are likely to be without Tom(knee) and Rob Afoa Peterson (shoulder) until after Christmas, Lee Queeley is out with a back injury and Josh White is likely to be unavailable as he starts for Yorkshire under-20s against Cheshire on Sunday.

"However, we have two experienced Cleck lads in the second row in Carl Mason and Grant Turton.

"They did well last week against Billingham and should give us at least 40 minutes, while the front row of Alex Dawson, Ben Thrower and Callum 'murdered' their opposition. "We have named a squad of 19."

Yorkshire Division Two leaders Bradford Salem have had to make some changes for their home match against sixth-placed Goole due to long-distance commitments.

Salem's first-team manager Neil Klenk said: "Scrum half Matt Child has gone to Canada for three months to teach snowboarding, while skipper James Cunliffe is away with a school trip.

"But that gives Jack Mitchell a chance at No 9, while Marc Gibbons reverts to No 8, where he has played in New Zealand, which allows Ali Veitch in at hooker."

Keighley have another tough clash at third-placed Barnsley.

Cleckheaton (at Beverley) from: R Hayden, C Blackburn, J Wilson, D Vento, M Woodhead, J Toulson, J Bickerdike, A Dawson, B Thrower, C Thompson, P Turner, C Mason, G Lamb, G Turton, J Seddon, J Crowther, J White, O Akroyd, R Piper.

Bradford Salem (home to Goole): D Belcher; S Savage, C Clough, R Smith, C Malarkey; A Robinson, J Mitchell; R Mckessar, A Veitch, S Davies, R Green, D Snowden, C Wood, M Gibbons, J Fawcett. Replacements from: J Booth, J Bradbury, S Gardner, P Thomas, A Wood.

Keighley (at Barnsley) from: W Armitage, Ja Atkinson, E Barker, S Booker, I Buckley, L Carter, D Drake, A Ebbrell, L Everett, M Hagyard, J Hannah, N Holroyd, A Horsfall, D Iliff, S Minikin, O Mitchell, C Spencer, L Sugden, R Wilkinson.