CLECKHEATON, who are only one point above the relegation line in North One East, are at in-form Bradford & Bingley tomorrow in an eagerly-anticipated derby.

However, Bees coach Anthony Posa knows not to look too closely at the table when it comes to this clash at Wagon Lane.

“I know that it is a cliché, but league form goes out of the window when it comes to a derby like this,” said Posa.

Cleckheaton may be 10th in a highly-congested lower half of the table – only three points separate Percy Park in sixth from Bridlington in 12th – but they have some good form.

In their last two matches, the Moorenders have won a derby 30-17 at Morley and beaten visitors Percy Park 43-5.

Posa added: “It would nice to go into the Christmas break by taking our winning run to eight matches, but we are very, very wary of Cleckheaton, especially in conditions like we are expecting, and that is a compliment to Cleckheaton.”

Third-placed Bradford & Bingley are expected to give a start to hooker Harry Butler, a former Yorkshire Carnegie Academy player, who Posa knows from being Yorkshire Under-20s coach.

Bradford Salem will do well to get anything from their trip to Middlesbrough in Yorkshire Division One.

The hosts are fourth and Salem are eighth, and not only history is against the Heaton club.

They have lost all three previous matches to Boro, but are also missing a crop of players due to Sam Dunn’s wedding, including utility back Danny Belcher, who is best man, and Max Trueman.

Keighley, who are 13th, are at home to Dinnington, who are ninth but have won three of their last four.

Old Grovians, who host Roundhegians in Yorkshire Division Two, are hoping for better luck than last weekend, when they had to concede at Ripon.

Grovians’ assistant coach Dan Nulty explained: “We had 12 front-row players unavailable due to injuries or other commitments, and we travelled with only 13 players.

“We then went down to 11 players but were leading 17-5 after 30 minutes, and then went down to nine players and conceded eight tries at which point the game was abandoned as it wasn’t doing us any good and it wasn’t doing them any good.

“But at least because we didn’t cross off we were not docked any league points.

”Ironically, we have too many players this week, including front-row players.

“We have signed six or seven front-row players in the past six or seven weeks, including two this week in Joe Kvedas and George Keefe, and we will give Matthew Worrall a rest.”

Baildon, who climbed out of the relegation places last week with a 24-5 home win over Leeds Modernians, not only have league points at stake in Yorkshire Division Three when they host fourth-placed Thornensians.

The clubs will also be vying for the Brian Hawkins Memorial Trophy, named in honour of the former Baildon and Thornensians player.

Leaders Wibsey, who drew 12-12 at second-placed Knaresborough last week to lose their 100 per cent record in Yorkshire Division Four North West, are at bottom-of-the-table Thirsk.

Wibsey, who were frustrated as they conceded both tries when No 8 Michael Kite was in the sin-bin for dissent at Knaresborough, managed tries by Kyle Carter and Brad Wright.