BRADFORD & BINGLEY’S season has reached the point of no return.

Sitting fifth in North One East, they are 13 points behind second-placed West Hartlepool with just six matches to go.

With leaders Pocklington 16 points in front and only a play-off spot available for the runners, even allowing for a favourable run-in, it seems likely that the 16-9 defeat at Driffield almost a fortnight ago was the final nail in the Bees’ promotion bid.

However, their director of rugby Martin Whitcombe is not prepared to throw in the towel yet, saying ahead of the home clash against next-to-bottom Guisborough: “You never say never in this game, and we need to win all of our remaining matches and see where it takes us.”

As for the Driffield match, Whitcombe added: “We got a point out of it but it should have been more. We could have come away with a win but two yellow cards cost us.”

While the Bees are still looking up, CLECKHEATON, who are tenth in the division above, are casting nervous glances over their shoulders.

They are two places but only two points above a relegation place, and their coach Scott Benton laughed: "I took this job as a bit of fun but it is absolutely killing me!"

Ahead of their National League Three North match against sixth-placed Billingham at Moorend, Benton said: "We have been absolutely decimated by injuries and unavailabilities, especially to the backs.

"Lee Queeley and Ross Hayden are unavailable, Cameron Burnhill is injured and Josh Hall was controversially sent off at Kendal, and his hearing is not until next Thursday.

"We lost 22-7 at Kendal in a mudbath last time out, but they are a good team, which they proved by winning at Morley last weekend.

"But we have Mark Chivers back, which is a big plus, and we are not frightened of anyone at home and if we can front up and get a performance out of everybody, I am confident we can win."

OLD GROVIANS' position is not quite as precarious in Yorkshire Division Two, but the ninth-placed club could still do with beating fifth-placed Roundhegians at home.

BAILDON'S season may have tailed off in Yorkshire Division Three but they still have a big match to look forward to – a Yorkshire Silver Trophy semi-final at home to Yorkshire Division Four leaders Skipton on Saturday, March 18.

Not only is that clash a derby but it also brings former coach Dave Duxbury, who took the Jenny Laners to two RFU Junior Vase finals at Twickenham and a Silver Trophy triumph, back to Jenny Lane. Baildon are at home to Old Otliensians.