Rugby Union: Bradford and Bingley, who are hoping to extend their winning run to 11 matches, have delayed selection for tomorrow's third round NPI Cup tie at home to Northern.

The Bees, who haven't lost since going down 17-15 in a club match against Sedgley Park on August 29, are still suffering from a crop of injuries.

"Andy Murphy has a groin problem, Richard Petyt, who missed last week's match, a hamstring strain, and Mark Heap and Mark Ramsbottom back injuries," said Bradford and Bingley coach Colin Hay.

"We haven't been playing that well recently, but hope to rectify that tomorrow - once we get 15 players on the paddock."

Northern will undoubtedly provide Thwaites North Division Two leaders the Bees with their toughest test of the season. Although third in North One, Northern have only played five matches, all of which they have won.

Keighley, at home to North Shields who are second-from-bottom in Durham and Northumberland Division One, are resting centre Kevin Young (foot injury), but otherwise have a strong squad.

Simon Atkin moves to the second row to the exclusion of Peter Southgate, Tim Brunskill coming into the back row after recovering from a rib injury.

"We have suffered some humiliating defeats to sides from Shields' equivalent division in Yorkshire, so we won't be taking them lightly," said Keighley's press officer Bob Swift.

Wharfedale shuffle their back division for their third round Tetley's Bitter Cup tie at Nottingham. Centre Jonathan Davies and winger Craig Eccleston return, Andy Hodgson reverting to full back and Neil Heseltine moving to inside centre.

In the pack, Charlie Vyvyan starts in the second row, allowing Russ Buckroyd to switch to No 8 with Sam Allen resuming at blind-side flanker.

Baildon, who already have an away league win at Leeds Corinthians under their belt this season, face the Middleton club at Jenny Lane in the third round of the tetley's Bitter Vase. Prop Dave Ruff is back in Baildon's squad after work commitments, Les Bray-Jones dropping to the second team.

Lack of backs is still a problem for Wibsey, who are at home to Sheffield Tigers in the Vase. Joe Cawood, who has been unavailable because of work for three weeks, returns on the right wing, and Chris Chamberlain - normally fly half - is at scrum half, a role he fills for Bradford University's rugby league team in midweek.

Front row problems - none of last week's trio are available - almost caused Cleckheaton to concede their Independent Agriculture Yorkshire Cup first round tie at home to Otley.

"Darryl McSwiney and Gordon Piper are not available, and Martin McSwiney is injured," said Cleckheaton's Alan Bentley. "However, we want to fulfil the fixture, but have contacted Otley to tell them we will be understrength in the front row."

At least the Yorkshire RFU have helped the Moor Enders, delaying prop Warren Stephenson's three-week suspension for a week so that he can play.

Otley will be fielding a second team, but that still includes William Darby, Simon Hawkins, Andy Brown, Chris Baldwin, Steve Hudson and John Burke.

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