Bradford & Bingley have suffered a blow to their hopes of avoiding relegation from SSE National League Three North.

Winger Jordan Davies, who has scored four tries for them in three matches since joining from
Harrogate, has got a job in London and is therefore unavailable.

“It is now up to the young lads, such as Adam Wellington, to step up to the plate,” said Bees’ coach Phil Greaves ahead of the home match against Beverley.

Bradford & Bingley need to make up a gap of eight points and two places with only four matches left, and Greaves added: “Sides such as Percy Park and Billingham have more difficult run-ins than us but we need to win all our matches.

“We have three out of four at home, and if we beat Beverley on Saturday and win at Billingham next weekend, the picture will be a lot rosier.”

Cleckheaton could lift the SSE North One East title on Saturday at Northern, but only if third-placed West Hartlepool win at second-placed Huddersfield YMCA.

A more likely scenario is that the Moorenders will take the silverware next weekend at home to Morpeth.

Back on Saturday are player-coach Rob Afoa Peterson, No 8 Richard Piper and lock Grant Turton, with prop Paul Turner also starting, having been on the bench last weekend in the Yorkshire Cup at Wharfedale.

Bradford Salem will hold a minute’s silence before their SSE Yorkshire Division Two home match against West Park Leeds in memory of director of rugby Craig Busby.

His funeral is at Rawdon Crematorium on Tuesday (12.20pm) before a function at Old Modernians RUFC.

Cleckheaton (at Northern): R Hayden; J Wilson, O Depledge, Matt Piper, M Woodhead; Michael Piper, J Bickerdike; P Turner, J Crowther, C Piper, G Turton, R Piercy, R Afoa Peterson, R Piper, O Akroyd. Replacements: James Marshall, A Dawson, A Piper.

Bradford Salem (home to West Park Leeds): D Belcher; A Sutcliffe, C Malarkey, T Barnes, A Wood; A Robinson, J Mitchell; J Bradbury, A Veitch, S Davies, J Cunliffe, R Green, K Falwasser, J Fawcett. Replacements from: S Markey, D Luxton, C Walker, J Ashworth.

Old Grovians (at Harrogate Pythons) from: D Roberts, D Gullick, C Blackhall, C Cockshott, T Brooksbank, L Walter, G Phillips, B Williams, C Medley, N Jack, J Strauss, B Brown, D Copsey, A Weaving, A Griffin, B Magee, A Magee, D Hendricks, J Yates, S Torr.