IF PROMOTED Cleckheaton are feeling sorry for themselves after winning only two of their five fixtures so far in SSE National League Three North, they need only look at where their opponents are in the table.

"We have played the current top three away from home," revealed Cleckheaton fixture secretary Alan Bentley, "and last Saturday's defeat at Sandal was a salutary lesson."

Cleck have lost at Firwood Waterloo (second, 33-19, September 6), Sale (first, 37-16, September 20) and Sandal (third, 58-22, October 4).

"We did all right in the pack, and scored four tries for a bonus point, but Sandal had too much pace all over the park," said Bentley.

"What we have to do now is win the matches against teams who are lower in the table.

"However, we would like to think it will be different when the top three come to us later in the season when the pitches are heavier."

Tomorrow is an opportunity for fifth-bottom Cleckheaton at Huddersfield YMCA, who are only one place off the basement despite beating champions Cleck twice last season in North One East before being promoted via a play-off.

Still without injured scrum half Jack Bickerdike and flanker Rob Afoa-Peterson, Cleckheaton have Lee Queeley back in the centre and give a chance to Josh White in the back row.

KEIGHLEY have not had much to smile about yet but there was some good news this week in that experienced back Danny McGee has made himself available for the whole season.

McGee had originally taken an extended sabbatical but responded to the club's SOS last weekend in the home defeat to Moortown and continues at fly half in SSE Yorkshire Division Two at Old Rishworthians tomorrow.

Another one back in the fold is full back Rob Wilkinson, while Ian Buckley and David Iliff are in the second row and Leigh Sugden at No 8 as the visitors add much-needed bulk against opponents who drew 15-15 at BRADFORD SALEM last weekend.

Salem have Ryan Smith back in the centre and switch Conor Wood to the back row at Ripon.

Cleckheaton (at Huddersfield YMCA): R Hayden; C Blackburn, L Queeley, Matt Piper, M Woodhead; Mike Piper, J Wilson; P Turner, B Thrower, C Piper, A Dawson, T Austin, J White, R Piper, O Akroyd. Replacements: C Thompson, J Crowther, S Wood.

Keighley (at Old Rishworthians): R Wilkinson; L Carter, A Ebbrell, A Horsfall, S Blakely; D McGee, D Lester; C Spencer, W Armitage, D Smith, I Buckley, D Iliff, L Sugden, S Minikin, J Hannah. Replacements: T Lowther, B Atkinson, S Booker.

Bradford Salem (at Ripon): D Belcher; C Walker, C Clough, R Smith, S Savage; A Robinson, M Child; J Bradbury, A Veitch, S Davies, J Cunliffe, D Snowden, C Wood, D Pearson, J Fawcett. Replacements: J Booth, R Green, M Smith.