BRADFORD & BINGLEY must feel like a horse making a move up the rails during a steeplechase in heavy conditions.

Things didn’t look too promising after their 61-10 defeat at West Hartlepool in October but the Bees have gained enough North One East victories since to maintain their prospects of a second successive promotion.

And Martin Whitcombe’s team have been further boosted by a favourable run-in that means they only face one of their rivals for a place in National League Three North in their last nine fixtures.

“We’re still in it,” said director of rugby Whitcombe ahead of the fifth-placed club’s home match against 11th-placed Malton & Norton, who came up with them last season.

And what’s more the Bees, who admittedly have lost centre Schalk Oosthuizen back to South Africa, are close to full strength.

The chief questions are do they play Ben Greaves or Richard Tafa in the centre, and where does Nick Gore fit into the back line?

Whitcombe added: "We will try to win each match as it comes along and see where we are in a month's time."

Meanwhile, Conor Wood’s nightmare season continues for eighth-placed Bradford Salem in Yorkshire Division One.

After recurring ankle trouble, concussion, suspension and the festive break, the flanker or centre or prop now has a rib cartilage problem.

He has pleaded to be on the bench at fifth-placed Scarborough, but it looks a long shot.

Another decision that the Heaton club have to make is whether to start with Kodie Brook or Ryan Smith on the wing, but that poser could be made a lot easier if full back Danny Belcher fails a fitness test on his injured back.

Keighley, who are one place higher than Salem, make the short trip to Hipperholme to face Old Brodleians, who are fourth.

Old Grovians must also travel to a club who are fourth, meeting Ripon in Yorkshire Division Two.

Promotion looks beyond fifth-placed Baildon, who are at tenth-placed Harrogate Pythons in Yorkshire Division Three.

The visitors are without second row Tom Peel and flanker Ryan Kershaw.

However, in come James Fox at lock, Howard Fojt in the back row and Nick Lister at full back. Baildon coach Andy Pollard said: "The aim of this season was always consolidation. We haven't got the strength in depth yet.

"Some people were getting excited after we won our first seven, when we were over-achieving but others weren't."

Bradford & Bingley (home to Malton & Norton) (possible): N Gore; A Mitchell, B Greaves, R Tafa, A Sutcliffe; G Nortier, S Jeffreys; M Crotch, M Cochrane, R Wederell, H Jeffrey, B Mitchell, T Booth, T Cummins, M Mountain. Replacements: A Smith, M Akauola, D Copsey.

Bradford Salem (at Scarborough): D Belcher; K Brook or R Smith, H Hall, A Robinson, N Fontaine; M Booth, J Mitchell; T O’Sullivan, A Veitch, J Bradbury, J Cunliffe, R Green, J Booth, C Baines, C Manchester. Replacements from: J Abram, C Wood, S Gardner, D Luxton, J Morrell, Brook or Smith.