Cleckheaton are hoping history repeats itself when they host Harrogate in the Centurion Yorkshire Cup first round on Saturday.

Spokesman Alan Bentley said: “The last time we played Harrogate was in 2005, again in the Yorkshire Cup first round, and we beat them 15-6 at home.

“We got to the final that year, beating Leeds Tykes on the way, before losing to Halifax in the final.

“We’re one of the few clubs who really value the competition.”

Cleckheaton may be keen to progess but they will have to do so without No 8 Oliver Akroyd and second row Grant Turton, who areunavailable.

Bradford Salem will have revenge on their minds when they head to Wath in the Corporate Leisurewear Yorkshire Shield first round.

First-team boss Neil Klenk said: “We were pipped to promotion from Yorkshire Two by them last season so we have a score to settle.

“However, the priority is the league so anyone with knocks is being rested.”

Those taking a breather include Simon Davies, full back Danny Belcher and former Keighley Cougar Sam Gardner. Jonny Robinson replaces namesake Andy at fly half, while flanker Rhys Green makes his debut after joining from Keighley.

Ilkley coach Rhys Morgan is unlikely to be tempted into wholesale changes for Saturday, even though they are not in league action.

The Dalesmen, who are second in SSE Yorkshire Division One, are at Castleford, who are bottom of Yorkshire Division Two, in the first round of the Corporate Leisurewear Yorkshire Shield (2.15).

But what happened last season against Skipton is still too raw in Morgan’s mind.

He said: “I might make one or two changes from last Saturday but they will either be because of injuries or because the players genuinely deserve a chance to play because of the form they have been showing.

“We might get a referee who sees things differently to us and Castleford may be fired up and I want to take as few risks as possible. I would say that even if we’re facing Wath.”

Ilkley squeezed past hosts Barnsley 23-19 in the league last Saturday, and Morgan said: “I was pleased with the way we played in the first half, and that is true of the first 60 minutes.

“We were 16-9 up at half-time, when we had stopped them breaching our try-line, restricting them to two penalties on what was a small pitch.”

Injuries and squad rotation mean that Old Grovians will name a much-changed starting 15 for their Yorkshire Silver Trophy tie at Halifax.

The pack is strengthened by the return of James Tenholme at prop, while Harry Cody-Owen and Tom Adams are expected to figure in the back row.

Joel Bradley is fit to play at scrum half after illness forced him to miss the win at Mosborough, while wingers Aaron Magee and Joe Sowden are both likely to start as Dean Hogg begins his recovery from a shoulder operation.

Centre Gaz Phillips is also missing, leaving director of rugby Martin Whitcombe with the prospect of starting a new combination in the middle of the back line.

Forwards Sam Robinson and Ryan Brown will both have fitness tests before kick off.

Bradford Salem (at Wath): D Thomas, C Walker, S Savage, S Tasker-Howard, R Jolly, J Robinson, D Howcroft; J Ashworth, S McLelland, J Bradbury, J Morrell, J Cunliffe, D Hutton, K Falwasser. Reps: P Luxton, R Bourne, R Green, A Ahir.

Old Grovians (at Halifax) from: C Blackhall, M Worrall, J Trenholme, D Roberts, C Cockshott, T Dalton, R Brown, T Adams, H Cody-Owen, D Foster, L Downes, B Williams, S Robinson, M Lister, J Bradley, B Brown, A Magee, A Griffin, T Whitehead, J Sowden, O Ski, K Lilley, R Hopkinson, B Butt.