North Yorkshire is bracing itself for its most pivotal moment of rugby union in years tonight.

Selby will be playing for a place in the Yorkshire Cup final while York RI and Malton and Norton clash at New Lane (7pm) in a game which may decide who gains promotion to Yorkshire Two.

RI expect to field the same side that won at Heath on Saturday, providing prop Paul Ryan shakes off the effects of a heavy cold.

"It promises to be a great night. Both clubs get on really well together and there should be a good crowd," said RI spokesman Nigel Lowery.

Victory will guarantee Malton promotion - unless struggling Sheffield Oaks fail to fulfil their fixtures.

The South Yorkshire club, whose game against another of the promotion contenders, Skipton, was called off on Saturday have now said that they will be unable to play their remaining games.

They are scheduled to face RI this coming Saturday and Skipton on May 12.

If they don't their record could be expunged which would see Malton lose four points from their two victories against Oaks earlier in the season while Skipton and RI would just lose two points each.

Another alternative if Oaks don't play their remaining two fixtures is that Skipton and RI would both be awarded two points from a '0-0 win'.

But theory will be on the backburner tonight as Tetley Vase winners Malton and Norton are forced to make chances for the key clash.

Andy Newsome suffered severe muscle spasms in his back in Saturday's win at Old Otliensians and will be replaced at scrum half by his brother Jon.

Centre Tim Chapman has a neck injury and will be replaced by Arthur Wilson while either Richard Webster or Phil Ryan will come in if Dave Knaggs fails to recover from a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, Selby will be hoping to pull off another shock in the Yorkshire Cup by beating Middlesbrough in the semi-final at Sandhill Lane tonight (6.45pm).

The winners will face Sandal who beat Doncaster 34-13 in last night's semi-final.

Selby are still cock-a-hoop after lowering the colours of National League side Morley in the quarter-final.

"That was possibly the best-ever result in the club's history," enthused Selby team-manager Richard Besley.

Fit-again John Hick and Tommy Burton will contest a battle for a place in the second row, otherwise it will be the same side which defeated Morley.

Coaches Steve Cruise and John Webster are both likely to be on the replacements' bench.

Updated: 12:22 Wednesday, May 02, 2001