THE pool table in Wibsey’s clubhouse is situated a little way from the bar.

Normally that would be a good place to go, maybe to play a game or two with a mate while downing a pint.

But being near the pool table isn’t such a good thing these days as it has become synonymous with getting ‘the bullet’.

“It’s where I take the players to to tell them they haven’t made the match-day squad,” admitted Wibsey’s rugby manager Steve Brooke.

Not so long ago, Wibsey, who are leading Yorkshire Division Five with eight wins out of eight, had a problem getting 15 out, never mind deciding who will make the bench and who will be left out all together, but Brooke, Andy Rose, James Brown and Rob Greenwood have that problem for tomorrow’s match at third-placed Knaresborough.

Brooke said: “It isn’t easy telling lads that they have been left out, and it is a balance between giving everybody a chance who trains and picking a side that is strong enough to win.”

Five players, possibly including new boy Sam Foulds, will not even make the bench tomorrow for what Brooke described as “a tough match”. He added: “Knaresborough will be up for it, as they were at our place, and they have a quality No 10.”

Cleckheaton are at Firwood Waterloo in National League Three North, and are again without prop Paul Turner due to work commitments, may be just above the relegation zone but head coach Scott Benton said: “I am more than confident that we will finish mid-table.

“We started really well at home to Hull last week and bossed the first ten minutes but Hull scored a couple of fortunate tries in the next 30 minutes. We won the second half 17-3 but left our comeback a bit too late and lost 24-15.”

Fifth-placed Bradford & Bingley are without No 8 Tom Cummins due to a bicep injury at home to Percy Park in North One East, switching Sam White to No 8 as they bid to extend their winning run to five matches.

Bradford Salem have former skipper James Cunliffe and could have flanker Conor Wood back for the home Yorkshire Division One derby at home to West Leeds but will still have some late fitness tests.

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

Bradford Salem (home to West Leeds): D Belcher; N Fontaine, J Abram, H Hall, R Smith; A Robinson, M Booth; T O’Sullivan, A Veitch, J Bradbury, J Cunliffe, J Morrell, C Wood, C Baines, C Manchester. Replacements: K Brook, L Chaudron, W Collins.

Wibsey (at Knaresborough) from: K Carter, S Fisher, L Wilson, C Clough, B Wright, I Khan, J Sawyer, E Gray, J Ratcliffe, J Rodgers, D Carr, M Darragh, A Rose, M Grimes, J Birkbeck, M Kite, J Nall, C Farley, J Brown, D Wilkinson, S Foulds, D Hartley, S Birkbeck, C Partridge, B Mpofu.