Malton and Norton believe home advantage could be key in their bid to clinch the Yorkshire Three title.

With just six games left, the championship looks like being one of the closest yet with just four points separating the top six sides.

Malton find themselves deeply entrenched in the battle, with the Gannock side two points behind the leaders Heath, who have a game in hand on their rivals.

However, with Malton set to travel to Heath next Saturday, the scales could tip in their favour, especially as they have three home games to finish the campaign.

Promotion would make amends for last season when, although the club won the Tetley's Bitter Vase at Twickenham, they missed out on promotion.

The key date though could be the very last league match on April 13 when Malton entertain fifth-placed Old Otliensians (played 13, points 20), while third-placed Leeds Corinthians (p 14, pts 22) play host to Heath.

Also in the running are Stocksbridge (p 14, pts 21) who travel to the Gannock on March 16 in another crunch tie.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: "Looking at the fixtures we have got left the most difficult one for us is definitely Heath away, after that then we should be okay.

"It could go right to the wire, but the fact we have got those games at home will see us through - we don't lose many at home."

Defeat against Heath would not necessarily end Malton's hopes of moving into Yorkshire Two as at least two sides are pencilled in to be promoted.

POCKLINGTON and Selby have added to their squads for the rest of the season.

Hot on the heels of former England Colt, Dan Clappison, Pocklington have bolstered their forwards with the signing of Matt Elwine - a former West Hartlepool flanker.

Elwine, whose brother Tony was a first team regular for the fallen giants in the early 1990s, will now team up with his former West team-mate Andy Richardson at Percy Road.

The pair used to play together in the junior sides at West a decade ago.

Meanwhile, Selby have profited from another professional club - they have signed hooker Paul North.

North, who was at Sandhill Lane three years ago, had been plying his trade with National One side Bracknell, under the guidance of former England prop Paul Rendall.

But he has now decided to return to his home town club.

THERE is a minor revolution taking place at Wetherby this season, following the appointment of head coach Paul Matthews.

Matthews, well-known in Yorkshire and North of England youth coaching circles, has started to develop a complete change in the way Wetherby players and the committee approach the game in the modern era at senior level.

Since the start, the club has slowly begun to accept the sea of change with the new approach, of thinking/total rugby, which is now being seen at international level.

All this has resulted in Wetherby moving from being a static mid-table Yorkshire Four club to one pushing for promotion to Yorkshire Three - despite their 8-0 loss against leaders Knottingley last Saturday - with a real future for development and growth.

Any new players interested in sampling the Grange Park facilities should contact rugby chairman Dave Loughlin (07801) 500670 or join training on Tuesday/Thursday evenings at 7pm.

RUGBY fans at Malton and Norton's Gannock ground were treated to a glimpse of the stars of the future when Yorkshire Clubs U17s beat their Durham counterparts 17-0.

Malton were praised for the state of their pitch and the way it had been prepared, especially considering the very wet weather.

Yorkshire scored first half tries through Middlesbrough wing Nathan Butler (2) and Hull Ionians flanker Jac Barber, converted by centre Liam Duffy.

Yorkshire ripped into Durham in the opening 20 minutes creating several scoring opportunities with the Yorkshire forwards dominating the exchanges.

The second half saw a more even contest with Durham starting to win lineout possession and maintaining good continuity. Only dogged defence prevented a score.

Full-back Josh Webster, from the club Malton, also starred in the win.

YORKSHIRE Under 20s are in action this weekend with Harrogate-born Andrew Boyle handed the captaincy for their game against Lancashire.

Back-rower Boyle, who now plays for Otley, will be joined by Harrogate duo Michael Lewis and Mark Spilman, a former pupil at St Peter's School.

Lewis has been named in the second row, while Spilman has been handed the No 10 jersey.

RUGBY writer Derek Robinson has released his revised edition of Rugby: A Player's Guide To The Laws (published by Collins Willow and priced at £6.99).

The book puts the often complicated and confusing laws into an easy readable form, backed up by illustrations.

But in this addition, the author has not only added any changes to the laws but answered questions posed by readers from his previous book.

A Player's Guide To The Laws is handy for all clubs to have a copy of lying around to solve those post-match debates - or even for referees to check up on before they take to the field!

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, February 16, 2002