BIRKENSHAW Bluedogs have been forced to withdraw from their BARLA Bartlett Yorkshire Cup tie due to injuries.

The Bluedogs were scheduled to visit unbeaten Pennine League Championship Division leaders Ovenden on Saturday after reaching the quarter-final stage without playing a game themselves after West Hull failed to raise a side in the previous round.

Birky, who travelled to Eastmoor last week with only 13 fit players, suffered a further bout of injuries to leave them unable to raise a side for the visit to Halifax.

Wyke head coach Ian Wormald, on the other hand, marks the Yorkshire Cup tie against Sharlston Rovers as the turning point in their fortunes.

The black and whites' young centre Calvin Barker posted a brilliant hat- trick in the 44-28 defeat, and the team have been boosted by that  performance to climb up the Pennine League Division Two Central table into fifth.

Barker will miss out when they welcome Eastmoor Dragons to Towngate due to a damaged shoulder, but he is the only absentee from the squad that won convincingly at Queensbury last time out.

The Wakefield-based National Conference League outfit have not had things their own way so far, having lost two of their eight outings so far after starting out as favourites for the title.

Clayton face a huge task at undefeated pacesetters Oulton Raiders, who are another Conference-based summer side.

Scott Pendlebury’s charges have struggled to field a full side on the road but they have a major boost for this trip with the return of established duo, prop Luke Harps and goal-kicking centre Ryan Wilkinson.

Queensbury will count the bruises before they select prior to boarding the bus to Wortley Dragons, who have the lowest scoring record in the division.

Brighouse Rangers' march up the Championship Division table looks set to continue when they make the short journey to Siddal.

Rangers came through last week’s clash against Illingworth unscathed and keep the same squad that will be poised to record their fourth win on the trot.