York make the long journey to Westoe hoping to bring an end to their run of three defeats in North East Two.

Smarting after losing at home to Sandal last week they have made a number of changes.

Following a number of good performances in the second team Craig Ventress is preferred to Ben Quick at stand-off in the hopes that his distribution skills will bring the backs more into play, in particular Rob Kama who, again last week, showed that he can turn half-chances into tries.

Sam Arkle replaces Rob Taylor in the centre as the selectors believe that he will also give more options in attack.

In the back row it is all change with Stu Davies returning so as to harness his pace, which was badly missed against Sandal.

Ian Davies is replaced at number eight by Andy Kay, while Grant Williams retains his place at wing-forward having made a good impression as substitute last week. Skipper Pete Curtis is unavailable; his place goes to Brad Macdonald.

In the front row Kiwi John Sharpe returns after resting a shoulder injury, replacing the unfortunate Rob Allen who had one of his best games for the club against Sandal.

Yorkshire League One leaders Malton and Norton travel to Huddersfield YMCA for the start of a brace of games labelled the toughest so far of the season by club spokesman Bill Laidler.

After tomorrow's trip to West Yorkshire, Malton and Norton entertain Pontefract, who presently lie just one point behind the men from The Gannock.

For the clash against Huddersfield YMCA Chris Robson gives way to Tony Reynolds who moves from prop to the second row. Liam Vaughan will come in as prop.

With full-back Hamish Burns and flanker Duncan Phillips unavailable and Andy Gabel, Tony Godfrey, Jason Cicero, Richard Nicholson, Jamie Pocklington and Mark Rollinson all missing through injury, Selby continue to make wholesale changes to their first XV.

Saturday's Yorkshire One trip to improving Keighley sees David Batty recalled at full-back with Mike Parsonage selected on the wing for his first senior game for going on a year. Andy Bennett retains his place at centre in place of the injured Andy Gabel.

In the scrum, Wright Phillips returns to the second row in place of the injured Cicero with Ed Sweeting starting for the first time in the second row after doing well as a replacement last week against Yarnbury.

Winter kick-offs are now the norm with Yorkshire Three duty starting at 2.15pm for

Pocklington against Stocksbridge.

Skipper Matt Atkinson takes a week off after having a head wound glued together at York District Hospital following last Saturday's game, but Pocklington hope to have leading scorer Kevin Bowling returning to lead the three-quarters and Harry Allen is back from university in London to add his pace.

It is a busy weekend for the club as there is also a mini rugby Hallowe'en disco tonight and on Sunday the clubhouse is open from 7.30am to allow members to watch the England v Uruguay international during which a breakfast bar will be available.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire Three, York Railway Institute hit the road to travel to unbeaten table-toppers Castleford in what will be a tough ask.

But the RI ranks have been buoyed by an impressive start to the season.

So far they have posted four wins from six games, the last triumph over Northallerton.

The strength of the club has been further boosted by two new recruits, Rudy Thomas at centre and St John's College student Alex Betts in the second row.

Harrogate could be forgiven for seeking to exact revenge when they head to the Midlands to play Nuneaton in National League Division Two.

For coach Ralph Zoing's men were ousted from the Powergen Cup 29-16 just over a year ago by the same opposition.

Unfortunately, the visitors will be without winger Paul Clayton. He is out for the season after breaking his leg in training. That affords a debut for former Aspull and Sedgley Park flier Dave Mugam.

Updated: 11:06 Friday, October 31, 2003