THE Yorkshire Two promotion race is back in the melting pot this weekend as Malton and Norton vie for a place in the top two with West Park Bramhope and Keighley.

Malton moved into the second promotion spot after a helping hand from leaders Keighley, who toppled West Park.

But, Malton will not get the same kind of help tomorrow when they travel to face the Skipton Road side.

They could, however, look across to Percy Road for to support their promotion push, with Pocklington set to entertain West Park.

"To all intents and purposes, it is now do or die for us," said Malton coach Pat Stephenson. "All our games are now - we've Beverley away looming badly on the horizon as well as Pocklington at home.

"Keighley are unbeaten at home and are looking very confident so it is going to be difficult.

"They are a very similar side to us in the way they play, but if we can show the same level of commitment to what we showed against Skipton then that should stand us in good stead.

"But hopefully Pocklington can do us a favour. They won't be easing back at all because they will want to finish with as many points as possible.

"Their results haven't really done them justice, as we played them earlier in the season and it was a hard match. If they do win then there we will have a few drinks here for them."

Injuries will rule out Neil Gilbertson and Andy Whalley, while Carl Rushworth is unavailable.

Despite the praise of their local rivals ringing in their ears, Pocklington will welcome West Park Bramhope to Percy Road with a much changed side.

The club had hoped to get the game rearranged as the Merovingians section is away on a tour to the Channel Islands, with top try-scorer Tim Bolton and centre Rob Jackson also making the trip.

However, although West Park agreed to the change, the league refused, leaving the Pock selectors to piece together a competitive side for the clash.

To add to their problems, veteran Mark Taylor is set to miss the tie with a damaged shoulder and No 8 Matt Atkinson is away in Italy on business.

On the plus side, fly-half Kev Bowling and centres Guy Wilson and Rich Willman are available again, while Andy Richardson will switch to No 8.

Pock also bring two more promising 18-year-olds into the set-up, with Toby Shann, the son of former Pock and St John's College fly-half Bruce, and flanker Chris Pottage - to make it six teenagers in the 20-man squad.

With no Yorkshire or university commitments this weekend, U20s fly-half Henry Mitchell should be back available.

With just three games remaining, York can go a long way to securing second spot in Yorkshire One with a victory over bottom club Sheffield Tigers.

York are tied in a three-horse race for the two places with leaders Bridlington and third-placed Old Brodleians.

Bridlington need just one win to guarantee their place as they have a two-point lead at the top, but with just a further two-point gap to Brods, York know they are not home and dry yet - needing two wins from their final fixtures to ensure they finish at least second.

Director of rugby Andy Gair will be without the services of his skipper and player-coach Peter Curtis, while he will be hoping that St John's College student Brad MacDonald has made it through Wednesday's Varsity match against York University unscathed.

New Zealand hooker Jon Sharpe is also missing from the squad, allowing Rob Allen, a try-scorer in the victory over North Ribblesdale and in impressive form since his return to the first XV, to continue in the front row.

Selby have their sights set on breaking into the top four.

The Sandhill Laners, destined to lose their crown as the area's top side to York, can still finish a respectable fourth, but only if they can beat Huddersfield YMCA, the current occupiers of the position, tomorrow.

A squad of 18 has been named for the clash, although the starting XV is unlikely to be named until before the game. However, there is no place in the side for Ray Adamson, Dave Bramley or Dave Batty, who are all named in the seconds.

In Yorkshire Three, York RI can continue their impressive turn around in fortunes since the arrival of Chris Leathley as head coach when they entertain Stocksbridge.

Leathley has guided the New Lane club sixth spot, after having been in danger of a second successive drop, and a place in the top four is not yet beyond them. A win against fourth-placed Stocksbridge would go along way to achieving that goal.

Harrogate travel to title-chasing Henley determined to at least have a say in who wins National Two if they can't do it themselves.

With the promotion dreams over for another seasons, the best Harrogate can hope for realistically is third, but that won't stop them trying to scupper the hopes of Henley.

Club stalwart Peter Taylor has now left 'Gate, after more than 200 league appearances, due to RAF commitments, leaving them with a hole to fill in the second row.

Andy Boyle, a back-row by trade, could move up into the engine room, as could fans' favourite John Dudley.

Updated: 09:22 Friday, March 14, 2003