DESPITE Cleckheaton notching a fine 27-7 victory at Billingham last Saturday in National League Three North, victorious coach Scott Benton cut a frustrated figure when he looked at the table.

Cleckheaton are 11th with three wins from nine matches, but former England international Benton said: "Apart from Rossendale (who are second) we are more than capable of beating all of the teams in the table.

"We have strength in depth but the players haven't always played to the game-plan."

That was not a criticism that Benton could level against his squad last weekend as they played keep-ball for the first half into the strong wind, after which they were tied at 7-7.

He said: "Billingham scored a controversial try from a quick line-out, but, apart from that, they never looked like scoring as we played the conditions right."

Cleckheaton, who are at home to Hull on Saturday, with the east Yorkshire side 11 points and five places better off, will be without prop Paul Turner due to work commitments. However, centre Lee Queeley could return in the backs.

Bradford & Bingley's 33-7 triumph at Guisborough was their third bonus-point North One East win on the bounce, and delighted director of rugby Martin Whitcombe said: "Given the appalling weather and the number of changes to the side we had to make, that was an excellent performance.

"It was one of the best since I have been with the Bees. We asked Sam White, a front-rower, to play at No 8, we had a 17-year-old putting a fine shift in the second row, another one, Connor Capper making his starting debut and I hadn't even met Alex Hamard until we got to the ground!"

The fifth-placed Bees are at 11th-placed Dinnington on Saturday, and welcome back hooker Masui Akauola after a one-week suspension and lock Harry Jeffrey after ankle trouble.

Bradford & Bingley (at Dinnington):R Wilson; A Mitchell, A Macdonald, S Oosthuizen, A Sutcliffe; G Nortier, L Neha; M Crotch, M Akauola, R Wederell, H Jeffrey, T Booth, S White, T Cummins, M Mountain. Replacements: To be announced.