OLD boys have stepped up to the plate to help Old Grovians’ plea for front-row players ahead of their Yorkshire Division Two derby at Old Otliensians tomorrow.

“We put out the word and it has been answered by props Ben Pearson and Ed Linkogel, who are both making their debuts,” explained Grovians’ head coach Dan Nulty.

“Returning are Joe Lawrence in the second row and Nathan Barr at fly half as half-back Ben Brown is unavailable, and we are likely to move Josh Dixon to 12 from 13 and play Luke Hope-Robertson there.”

Also absent is Alex Masterson, who is due to be missing for five or six weeks with a separated shoulder.

“That is a real pity,” said Nulty, “as he has been playing so well for us.”

A win for either side would ease them away from the two relegation places, with Grovians, who have picked up points for the last four weeks, in 10th and promoted Otliensians, who have lost their last three, in 12th.

Bradford & Bingley coped well in the front row in their 25-20 win at Driffield in North One East last weekend, with veteran Ryan Wederell putting in a great shift alongside Michael Crotch and Corey Spencer.

Tomorrow the Bees host bottom-of-the-table Consett, who have lost all seven so far, but home coach Anthony Posa won’t allow any complacency to set in for a team who are aiming to win their fourth match out of five.

Cleckheaton, who have lost five out of six since beating the Bees at Moorend on September 8, are at home to Pocklington, who are only three points and three points ahead of their visitors.

Sixth-placed Bradford Salem are at Hullensians in a tightly-contested Yorkshire Division One, where only seven points separate leaders Old Crossleyans from seventh-placed neighbours Old Brodleians.

Hullensians are 11th, but raised eyebrows with their 29-5 home win over Beverley three weeks ago.

Keighley, who are bottom and have won only one out of eight, must pick themselves up from a 53-5 home defeat to Moortown when they travel to Pontefract.

Baildon are also propping up the rest, this time in Yorkshire Division Three, and had to give youngsters experience in a 38-5 loss at Knottingley last weekend.

However, the Jenny Laners are stronger this week at home to 10th-placed Sheffield Medicals, with half-backs Ollie Waddington and Kgosi Ngwenya returning, as well as Harrison Strauss.

Yorkshire Division Four North West leaders Wibsey, whose 13-12 win at Bramley Phoenix last weekend was the first time they have failed to claim a maximum, host Burley.

The Villagers are without influential No 8 Michael Kite and Jordan Payton, who broke a collarbone last Saturday night, but include prop John Bradbury, lock David Wilkinson and centre Ben Naylor, with Andy Robinson switching to fly half.

Bradford Salem (at Hullensians) from: C Anderson, C Baines, D Belcher, M Bokiss, C Clough, W Collins, K Dobson, N Fontaine, J Green, R Green, G Griekis, S Guttenbeil, H Hall, C King, M MacDonald, K Moore, S Savage, J Simpson, B Scholefield, R Smith, B Whitaker, C Wood.

Wibsey (home to Burley): B Wright; B Mpofu, B Naylor, N Marchant, R Moore; A Robinson, K Carter; S Birkbeck, J Brown, J Bradbury, E Cousins, D Wilkinson, M Darragh, R Simpson, L Wilson. Replacements: S Smith, D Carr, J Tordoff, S Foulds, A Rose.