Refreshed Huddersfield YMCA are hoping their free weekend will help them launch a successful end-of-season National III North charge.

Injuries took their toll a fortnight ago as they suffered a heavy 56-12 defeat at title-chasing Sale.

But with key man Ed Barber finally ready to return following knee surgery, fellow senior players Chris Clarke and James Watson also back after missing the Sale horror show and several others having been able to shake off niggly knocks by not playing last weekend. The mood at Laund Hill remains positive ahead of Saturday’s trip to local rivals Cleckheaton.

“We’re ready to go again,” announced player-coach Mark Whitehead.

“The defeat at Sale the other week was a tough one to take.

“But there was a realisation across the board that we faced a very, very good side at exactly the wrong time. While they’re flying high, we were really struggling injury-wise and then we didn’t help ourselves by gifting them so much ball.

“As a result, the boys have already put that one behind them and are looking forward to moving on at Cleckheaton this weekend, particularly after having last weekend off.

“Although we didn’t have a game last Saturday, we held an inside training session at the Leeds Road Sportsbarn, which enabled us to do some quality skills work.

“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and it had the desired effect of giving us all a big lift at just the right time.

“A total of 32 players turned up, which is obviously a very good number at this stage of the year, and there’s a collective desire totry and re-double our efforts and finish the season as strongly as we possibly can.”

Whitehead knows they face a tough assignment at Cleckheaton this weekend, with their hosts unbeaten at home this season.

But with the YM appearing to be their bogey team, the forward knows anything is possible.

“We definitely know we can beat them,” added Whitehead.

“Over the past few seasons, we’ve got a great record against them.

“Last season, we were the first team in about 18 months to beat them at their place, while we also beat themn at home earlier this season.

“That means this is a fixture we’re looking forward to playing.”

Huddersfield YMCA: Stu Dyke, Murphy. Moore, Bell, Housley, Hill, Whitehead, Lumb; Wilson, Wood; Bentley, Barber, Ryder, Bulloch, Stead. Subs: Watson, Robertson, Clark.