BRADFORD & BINGLEY’S director of rugby Martin Whitcombe was not beating about the bush when he reflected on their 61-10 defeat at North One East leaders West Hartlepool last Saturday.

He said: “It was not great, and I don’t think that we can really make any excuses.

“The players know that and I know that, but the only saving grace is that we have got three long away trips to Durham City, Morpeth and West Hartlepool out of the way early in the season, rather than in December or January and we have got three points out of them, and they all now have to come back to us.”

Tomorrow, the Bees, who are ninth, are at home to Huddersfield YMCA, who are sixth after their relegation from National League Three North last season.

Whitcombe added: “It will be nice to have a derby where spectators from both sides can get to watch.”

However, the hosts will be without former skipper Brett Mitchell due to injury.

CLECKHEATON are pairing Neil Chivers and Jack Bickerdike at half-back at home to Sandal in National League Three North.

Full back Ollie Depledge, centre Lee Queeley and hooker Ben Thrower are also given an opportunity in Cleck’s third derby in four weeks, but missing are Danny Vento, Iain Gordon and Jack Seddon.

Cleckheaton’s rugby chairman Neil Gillan said of their 57-15 defeat at Rossendale: “We didn’t play that badly and had lots of territory and possession but they scored four tries from turnover ball.”

Sixth-placed KEIGHLEY also have a derby – at 12th-placed North Ribblesdale in Yorkshire One.

Leaders BAILDON, meanwhile, are aiming to make it six wins out of six in Yorkshire Three when they travel south to Stocksbridge.

Cleckheaton (home to Sandal): O Depledge; M Haywood, L Queeley, Matt Piper, J Hall; N Chivers, J Bickerdike; P Turner, B Thrower, A Piper, R Piercy, L Pearson, J Carly, R Piper, T Austin. Replacements: N Jackson, B Marsden, J Wilson.