Early pitch inspection at Cleck

4:20pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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Cleckheaton will have to make an early decision for their eagerly-anticipated North Division One derby at home to third-placed Morley on Saturday.

Alan Bentley explained: “The referee is coming from High Wycombe and the assessor is travelling from Carlisle.

“We are holding a preliminary pitch inspection tomorrow and we will have another look if needs be at 9am on Saturday. But whatever happens, our corporate luncheon for 160 is going ahead.

“If the match is called off, the rugby club might be a good place to avoid as there might be some very drunk people inside it!”

Bentley is anticipating a very close match, and laughed: “Even our South Africans might realise it is a derby.

"Morley are like us in that they have lost some second-teamers to Colin Stephens at Leeds Metropolitan University.”

The only doubts for the hosts, who are five places and six points worse off than their visitors, are hooker Bossie Muller and No 8 Lance Hamilton.

Bentley said: “Muller has an ankle injury which he sustained against Westoe on November 15, while Hamilton has a tight hamstring.

“However, we have a very capable deputy for Bossie in Ed Chapellow, a product of Silcoates School who played in both matches against Darlington. He isn’t as physical as Bossie but, if needed, he won’t let us down.”

Cleckheaton (home to Morley): R Hayden; R Duckett, M Venter, T Lauriston, C Blackburn; D Brambani, M Piper; A Piper, B Muller, R Piper, C Rika, I Gresser, B Wade, L Hamilton, D Trivella. Replacements: E Chapellow, J Dudley, W Sovatabua.