CAPTAIN Tom Booth has been hailed as a key figure in Bradford & Bingley's upturn in form.

The Bees head to derby rivals Huddersfield YMCA tomorrow aiming for their fourth successive victory in North One East.

That run has lifted the Wagon Laners into mid-table after they had lost their opening three matches.

Director of rugby Martin Whitcombe puts that slow start down to early teething problems and highlighted versatile Booth, who plays lock or back-rower, as important in bringing them out of that sticky spell.

He said: "We were just getting into the groove. We had some tough games to begin with but we have managed to iron out a few problems.

"Tom is really growing into his role as captain. He is a great leader on the field and a great guy off it.

"He joined us two years ago and is in his second season since taking on the captaincy. We are really getting the best out of him on the field."

Wins over Dinnington, Northern and West Hartlepool have catapulted the Bees up to eighth place in the table, three points and two places above tomorrow's hosts Huddersfield.

And they make the short trip across West Yorkshire in good health, having not been in action on Yorkshire Cup weekend last Saturday.

Whitcombe said: "We are looking forward to the game. It's nice to have local away fixture.

"We are not complacent but we are pleased with the way we have played in the last three games.

"We are picking from strength. Everyone is available and the rest week came at a good time for us."

Huddersfield go into the fixture on the back of a 78-5 home hammering from Hull in the Yorkshire Cup first round.

The heavy defeat against a team riding high in the league above can hardly have boosted morale but Whitcombe accepts it should not have any bearing on this week's clash.

He said: "They are a hard-working team and it will be a close game.

"Last week was a one-off cup fixture so you can't read anything into it. The league is their bread and butter."

Cleckheaton are another side in North One East looking to bounce back from a Yorkshire Cup beating.

They head to bottom club Dinnington following a 51-19 loss at home to Ilkley. That saw Cleck out-paced on the break a number of times by the higher-division club but first-up tackle misses contributed to Ilkley making initial headway.

The Moorenders were due to address this in a defensive coaching session at training this week.

Cleckheaton: James Wilson, Ronan Evans, Liam Darville, Matt Piper, Mike Hayward, Mike Swetman, Jack Bickerdike, Paul Turner, Ben Thrower, Andy Piper, Josh Clough, Ryan Piercy, Neil Cherryholme, Luke Pearson, Jack Seddon, James Crowther, Niall Jackson, Josh Plunkett.

Baildon (home to  Harrogate Pythons): L Strauss; D Fletcher, L Hope-Robertson, D Pollard, M Robinson; M Withers, D Aaron; T Stanley, T Massey, A Hewitt, C Peel, M Fox, J Strauss, Z Orrell, H Strauss. Replacements: O Williams, J Bull, G Kershaw, P Wilson, A Teasdale.