YORK RUFC will look to keep the pressure on league leaders Percy Park with a handsome victory over West Hartlepool TDSOB at Clifton Park on Saturday.

York's win at Ashington last week, combined with surprise defeats for Percy Park and Durham City, has left the Clifton Parkers with a sniff of the Durham and Northumberland One championship.

Although five points behind Percy Park, York - who have moved into second place on points difference - do have a game in hand over their rivals and with West Hartlepool enjoying an indifferent season, victory will help to keep the title race alive.

That's because Percy Park have a tough game at home against Consett this weekend and rivals Durham and Northern face off against each other.

For York, Rob Kama returns to the side after being unable for last week's 31-9 win, while Andy Kay (pictured with ball) takes over the No 8 shirt, in place of Ian Davies, who drops to the bench. Jeremy Clutton fills Kay's usual berth at flanker.

Craig Ventress steps into the fly-half spot in place of Mike Ford who is unavailable.

York Railway Institute will take on West Leeds at the Railway Ground hoping for better things after being thumped by Barnsley last time out.

Thirty points down at half-time, RI rallied for a much improved second half performance. That has left club bosses hoping they can get back to winning ways in Yorkshire Three.

Nick Humphries and Robin Grice are unavailable, but Nathan Ashman is welcomed back.

Club spokesman Nigel Lowery said the players were expecting a result. "We expect to beat them," he said. "We hadn't played since December 18 and the lads were caught cold in the first half.

"But we have got fighting qualities and we think we've improved as the season has gone on. They have a couple of playmakers of whom we have to get on top."

Malton and Norton's quest to hit the higher rungs of North 2 East will be sternly tested when they take on third-placed Alnwick at home.

Despite a poor run of results before a morale-boosting 36-10 win over Redcar last week, Malton and Norton lie just four points behind their Northumberland foes.

Victory, which would be Malton and Norton's ninth of the campaign, could prove the springboard for a surge up the table.

Updated: 11:11 Friday, February 04, 2005