IT MAY be an 87-mile round trip but Bradford Salem are facing familiar foes tomorrow in the Yorkshire Shield.

Salem are in knockout action against Wath for an amazing FIFTH successive season.

“Even allowing for the fact that they may have seedings or pods, that is a remarkable statistic,” said Salem’s chairman Neil Klenk.

“We lost 47-20 away in 2012, won 32-22 at home in 2013, won 31-25 at home in 2014 and won 45-19 away last year!”

Salem give former Bradford Grammar School pupil Kodie Brook a chance at centre alongside the returning Connor Malarkey, welcome back skipper Andy Robinson (pictured) at fly half partnering Matt Booth, and give opportunities in the pack to prop Matt Beaumont (son of former Salem stalwart Andy), former Yarnbury flanker Ethan Perkins and ex-Old Grovians No 8 Christian Baines.

Keighley, who, like Salem, are a Yorkshire Division One club bidding to get through to the quarter-finals at the expense of Yorkshire Division Two hosts, are at Wetherby.

The home side, who have won back-to-back promotions, are unbeaten in their last 53 league matches (won 50, drawn three), but Keighley’s head coach Danny McGee said: “We hope to put them under pressure early on, and therefore give them a situation they are not used to.”

Understrength Keighley are without influential centre Ben Blackwell and forward Josh Hannah.

And neither can they give debuts to Jack Copperwaite or Dan Snowden (shoulder).

Cleckheaton’s second-round Yorkshire Cup tie at Hull (1.00) has revived memories of the Moorenders’ 2005 semi-final against Leeds Tykes at Chandos Park.

The home team included future internationals Luther Burrell, Danny Care, Rob Webber, Jordan Crane (England), Michael Cusack (Scotland), Kearnan Myall (England Saxons) and Rob Vickerman (England Sevens).

Cleckheaton fielded dual-code international John Bentley, legendary No 8 John Dudley, loose-head prop Neil Gillan and future England international Scott Benton (respectively Cleckheaton’s current chairman and coach) and tight-head prop Paul Turner, who is still playing for Cleck.

Old Grovians are at home to Old Rishworthians in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy first round.

Cleckheaton (at Hull): J Wilson; M Woodhead,L Queeley, K Downs, E Curley; R Evans, Matt Piper; P Turner, M Chivers, A Piper, R Piercy, L Pearson, T Austin, R Piper, D Vento. Replacements: B Thrower, J Seddon, J Carly, J Hall, D Archer.

Bradford Salem (at Wath): D Belcher; R Smith, K Brook, C Malarkey, N Fontaine; A Robinson, M Booth; M Beaumont, A Veitch, J Bradbury, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, S Savage, C Baines, E Perkins. Replacements (from): J Mitchell, R Brook, C Killen, D Pearce.