CLECKHEATON chairman Neil Gillan is in bullish mood ahead of his side’s trip to high-flying Hull tomorrow.

Cleck lie second-bottom after five games but last weekend they ran in seven tries to register a first win in National Three North and collect a bonus point, defeating bottom side Burnage 44-20.

Gillan believes the influence of recent new recruits Josh Hall and Mark Barlow will continue to make a telling contribution to his side.

Gillan said: “Josh is starting again at fly-half on Saturday and Mark will come off the bench at some point during the game to strengthen our backline.

“We are still finding our feet this year really and are not panicking too much because we finished sixth and lost our first three or four games last year as well.

“There is no panic because we have strengthened the squad in the backs and we’re looking forward to going to Hull.

“It’s the first time we have played them in a long time because they were obviously relegated last season.

“Hull have made their intentions clear that they want to go straight back up again. They are second at the moment so we are expecting a tough game.”

Michael Piper became a father for the first time last week and is expected to be unavailable for the trip to East Yorkshire.

Gillan said the travel to places such as Hull has hit the club in the pocket this season, adding: “It’s not too bad, but we find that we’re going less distances now that we’re in National Three than when we were in North-East One.

“As a result, the funding for RFU travel is much less than it was, so it is costing us a fortune in coaches this year.

“The coach trips aren’t any cheaper and we don’t get any RFU funding for games which are less than a 150-mile round trip.”

Elsewhere, table-topping Bradford & Bingley are away to Yarnbury as they go in pursuit of a sixth straight victory in Yorkshire Division One.

Bradford Salem have made a mixed start to the season in Yorkshire Division One as they prepare to host second-placed Malton and Norton.

Otley, who claimed a hard-fought 7-5 win at Chester in National League Two North last weekend, face a home game against Sale.

Baildon are at home to Leeds Medics and Dentists as they look to stop the rot after four straight defeats.

Cleckheaton: Wilson, Lamb, Woodhead, M Piper, Walker, Hall, Bickerdike, Jackson, Crowther, Turner, Piercy, Malkinson, Pearson, Carley, R Piper

Subs: Barlow, Marsden, Turton