BRADFORD & Bingley are hoping to return home tomorrow.

Thanks to Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge, which flooded Wagon Lane on three successive weekends last month, the Bees haven’t played at Wagon Lane since defeating Durham City 20-17 on February 8.

But they hope to return tomorrow to face Malton & Norton, who in seventh, are two places higher than their hosts in North One East.

However, the Bees won’t be using the first-team pitch if they do, as that is still under water in the left-hand corner near the changing rooms.

Instead, they hope to play across the river at Aire View, which they have used for league matches before.

Bees rugby chairman Chris Hemsley said: “The changing rooms are fine, although we will have to section some areas off as tiles have come off the shower walls.

“There is still a lot of work to do around the pitch at Aire View, as when you clear debris from the pitchside barriers it can reveal something else that needs doing, but we hope to play there and will make a definite decision later today[Friday].”

Malton & Norton have lost their last four away matches, but have picked up losing bonus points in two of them.

Second-placed Cleckheaton, buoyed by their 18-17 derby win at Morley last weekend, continue their pursuit of promotion with a home game against Pocklington, who are 10th.

“The match at Morley could have gone either way, and if Morley had won I would have said ‘fair enough’, but we wanted it a little bit more than them in the last 10 minutes in what was a physical game,” said Cleckheaton’s coach Thiu Barnard.

Pocklington, like Malton & Norton, have lost four successive away matches, but have picked up losing bonus points in three of them.

Heath, who are second in Yorkshire Division One, are another club who are trying to get their home pitch fit.

They are at home to seventh-placed Bradford Salem, but if they don’t play at Stainland Road, there is the option of playing at Kensington, a nearby school pitch used by Crossley Heath.

Salem will be without teenager Morgan Mirzaali, but hope to include Woodhouse Grove School pupil Matty Smith, who can play at full back or centre, as well as the experienced Glenn Morrison.

Keighley, in the higher of the two relegation places and who rode their luck to beat relegation rivals Pontefract 36-31 last weekend, have a winnable match at Bridlington, who are only two places and five points better off than their visitors.

Old Grovians included two 50-year-olds and three 45-year-olds in their line up at promotion chasing Roundhegians in Yorkshire Division Two last weekend and were understandably beaten 44-7.

“The situation isn’t much better this weekend,” admitted Grovians coach Andy Hinchliffe, “and it could be that we won’t gain that many more points between now and the end of the season.”

He added: “We haven’t been helped by the registration deadline of February 14.”

The ruling was meant to stop promotion-seeking sides, or clubs hoping to avoid relegation, from signing a raft of players late in the campaign, but has proved problematic for depleted mid-table sides like Grovians.

They host third-placed Wensleydale, who have adapted splendidly to life in the higher division, having won Yorkshire Division Three last season.

Baildon, who are second in Yorkshire Division Three, ought to be wary of improving Skipton.

They have picked up points in their last three matches, and made life difficult for the Jenny Laners in the reverse fixture, only losing 13-12 in November.

Wibsey, who have won their last five league matches, host Rotherham Phoenix, who are one place behind Skipton, having lost their last seven.