DERBY fixtures are coming out of the fixture programmers’ ears rgis weekend on the last league Saturday before Christmas.

They don’t normally need stoking up, but CLECKHEATON’S director of rugby Scott Benton has done his bit before their National League Three North match at Morley.

The hosts are in the highest of the three relegation places on 15 points, while Cleckheaton – every punter’s tip for demotion pre-season – are 11 points and two places better off in tenth.

The former England international scrum half said: “I know that Morley are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table but I feel it is short-sighted that they have drafted in some university players.”

BRADFORD & BINGLEY, who lost 22-20 at Alnwick last weekend to the last kick of the match in North One East, have again turned to 38-year-old Phil Greaves.

The former West Hartlepool and Rotherham centre has been training with a view to playing for Yorkshire Legends in some Masters tournaments, but played the second half of the match at Alnwick and is in from the start at full back at home to Morpeth.

Playmaker Gerhard Nortier returns at fly half after a recurring calf injury, while skipper Tom Booth reverts to No 8 for the injured Tom Cummins, while Max Mountain is at flanker.

OLD GROVIANS welcome back Ross Bannatyne for their stiff Yorkshire Division Two match at second-placed Old Rishworthians, and will give new boys Stuart Smythe and Alex Dodd-Jones more game-time.

Second-placed BAILDON, who won seven out of seven but have since won only three out of six to raise doubts about their suitability for promotion from Yorkshire Division Three, have an interesting test at Northallerton.

Missing for the visitors is lively flanker Ryan Kershaw, but back come skipper JJ O'Connell and Matty Dixon.

Bradford & Bingley (home to Morpeth): P Greaves; A Sutcliffe, D Copsey, S Oosthuizen, A Mitchell; G Nortier, L Neha; M Crotch, M Akauola, R Wederell, H Jeffrey, B Mitchell, M Mountain, T Booth, M Cochrane. Replacements: R Tafa, A Smith, B Greaves.