TWO defeats in their last three North One East matches have put BRADFORD & BINGLEY’S promotion challenge on shifting sand.

It really means that the fifth-placed club must beat leaders West Hartlepool at Wagon Lane on Saturday to stay in contention.

“That is about the size of it,” confirmed the Bees’ director of rugby Martin Whitcombe, who will make a late call as to whether Adam Mitchell or Dom Copsey starts at full back.

The situation is more clear cut for WIBSEY, who know that a bonus-point victory at Sheffield Oaks will confirm them as Yorkshire Division Five champions.

“We should be capable of doing that, but you never know what sort of a side Oaks will put out as they are at home, and they have said that they are up for it on Twitter,” revealed Wibsey’s chairman Steve Brooke.

The visitors are without Marcus Grimes and Alex Cerson but are still picking from 23.

Eighth-placed BRADFORD SALEM feel like they might be bucking their own trend in Yorkshire Division One as they seek a strong finish to the season.

“We are normally on a downward curve at this time of year,” admitted Salem’s chairman Neil Klenk, “but we feel we are on an upward curve, and that Old Brodleians and Keighley are on a downward curve.

“We definitely have the ability to finish in the top four.”

Salem are at Brods and are missing flanker Callum Manchester after the ankle injury that he picked up in the comprehensive home win over North Ribblesdale last weekend.

Ali Veitch reverts to the back row from hooker, with Tom O’Sullivan switching from No 2 to No 3, with James Callender being promoted from the bench.

CLECKHEATON have given chalk and cheese displays in National League Three North derbies either side of Christmas, losing 21-7 at Morley before winning 12-6 at Ilkley.

Coach Scott Benton explained: “There was a massive difference because we played with commitment and desire, and it doesn’t matter what game plan you have, you are not going to win if you don’t have those.”

Cleckheaton are without key men in hooker Mark Chivers and scrum half Jack Bickerdike at home to Rossendale.

BAILDON are also without a hooker as Dale Tabiner is getting married, with five of his team-mates also attending the service.

Therefore experienced forward Nick Murphy and scrum half James Dawson have been called up for the visit to Halifax as the Jenny Laners bid to kick start their faltering Yorkshire Division Three season.

OTLEY, who lost their unbeaten home record last Saturday when Sedgley Park won 45-19, are at Chester in National League Two North.

Bradford & Bingley (home to West Hartlepool):D Copsey or A Mitchell; N Gore, S Oosthuizen, B Greaves, A Sutcliffe; G Nortier, L Neha; M Crotch, M Akauola, R Wederell, B Mitchell, H Jeffrey, M Riaz, T Cummins, T Booth. Replacements: R Raper, M Cochrane, M Mountain.

Bradford Salem (at Old Brodleians): D Belcher; J Green, H Hall, C Wood, R Smith; A Robinson, M Booth; J Bradbury, T O’Sullivan, J Callender, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, N Fontaine, C Baines, A Veitch. Replacements: S Gardner, B Whitaker, J Booth.

Wibsey (at Sheffield Oaks) from: A Armitage, J Birkbeck, S Birkbeck, J Brown, D Carr, K Carter, M Darragh, C Farley, S Fisher, S Foulds, E Gray, D Hartley, I Khan, M Kite, R Lucas, B Mpofu, J Nall, J Ratcliffe, A Rose, J Sawyer, B Worsley, B Wright, E Culling.