THINGS are starting to look up for Bradford & Bingley after it was confirmed two of Keighley Cougars' stars would be making the switch to the rugby union side.

Aidan Scully and Dalton Desmond-Walker are the two men in question and they have switched codes to represent the Bees following their departures from Keighley.

It will come as a timely boost for everyone involved at the club with B&B losing their opening five league fixtures, while they were also handed a ten-point deduction for fielding underage players last season.

Discussing the arrival of the pair, Bradford & Bingley President Nick Patterson said: "Aidan was actually with us around ten years ago and he played a few games for the first team at the age of 19, but he always fancied chancing his arm at rugby league, so fair play to him with that; he had a successful time in the game.

"As for Dalton, he was asked by Aidan whether he'd like to continue playing rugby in some form after he was released by Cougars, so we spoke to him and he came down to his first session on Tuesday.

"Although they have predominantly been rugby league players throughout their careers, the additions of both players will come as a timely boost for ourselves. Importantly, they know how to tackle so it will help to harden up our defence. On the offensive side of things Dalton, once he gets his rugby union bearings, will be able to knock a few people about with his size and power; that will act as a great weapon for us in our attacking game."

Patterson added: "It's not about sending a message out to the rest of the league, but it's about improving our own game and strengthening our first time. These two lads will help to do that and we are excited to have them on board."

It may take a miracle for Bradford & Bingley to stay up given the club's circumstances at the beginning of the season, but it's a challenge that Patterson, the coaching staff and the players are willing to accept.

B&B's President said: "We know it's going to be a fight to stay up this season because of the points deduction we were handed. Obviously, we have lost our opening five games too which does it make it more difficult.

"However, we have played fairly well in large spells of our games and we've already faced a number of teams who plan to fight for the title this season. Those teams are very well organised and they're able to grind results out even if they're not playing well. It's unfortunate at the minute that we're perhaps not getting the luck of the bounce and the luck of the draw with the fixture list.

"But I've seen enough from the players in training and in the matches to show me that they are fully committed to the cause."