IT is second versus fourth in rugby union’s Yorkshire One tomorrow as York and Malton & Norton collide at Clifton Park.

A sizeable derby crowd is expected at Shipton Road to see if the hosts can put a stop to the Ryedale side’s seven-match winning streak.

Coach Sean Bass said: “The boys are champing at the bit. We’ve not played them for about three seasons so we are looking forward to it.

“They are going well. They recruited well over the summer, bringing in some overseas players, and obviously they are looking to bounce straight back up.

“We are not in bad nick. We got beaten by Doncaster Phoenix but last week we went to a big, strong Hullensians team and managed to turn them over.”

Malton are braced for another tough encounter having beaten fifth-placed Yarnbury at The Gannock last weekend.

Spokesman Bill Laidler said: “Yarnbury was a challenge, with their big, heavy pack, but we beat them in every department.

“York is another big test for everybody. York and Scarborough are the two biggest games for us. “Doncaster Phoenix keep winning at the top and we just need to carry on the way we are and hope they slip up.”

Malton are without full-back Sizwe Zondo and winger Tom Newitt.

York have a full complement to choose from, with Bass admitting it is impossible to overlook the claims of 19-year-old prop Sam Blain.

“We can’t ignore him,” said the coach. “His father, Andy, played for the club and he has come through the ranks.

“We took him to Hullensians last weekend and he played 70 minutes and he was outstanding. He’s young but he has an impact.

“He’s another product of the club. It is every coach’s dream to have 18 or 20 players who have come through the ranks. That is unlikely to happen, but it’s nice to see them come through.”

Toby Atkin returns to the starting line-up at scrum-half, with Matt Hargreaves missing out.

Selby host rock bottom Old Brodleians aiming to build on their first back-to-back wins of the Yorkshire One campaign.

The Swans shook off their up and down form to record successive victories over Middlesbrough and North Ribblesdale.

Coach Richard Nicholson said: “We are hoping to get some consistency.

“That is the target - to string a couple of results together before Christmas to put us in a good position for the second half of the season.

“It is quite tight in the middle section of the league and a few wins can take you up the table.”

Injuries forced Selby to field back rowers Jacob Robinson and Patrick Rowntree in the back line last weekend.

Nicholson said: “That was a challenge but they did really well and we deserved the result.”

Selby are hoping to have Pete Turner back in the squad for the first time since he picked up an ankle injury at Malton on November 1.

A batch of Selby’s under-six ‘micros’ players will feature in a curtain-raiser on the first team pitch tomorrow.

Pocklington tackle North One East leaders Sheffield at Percy Road tomorrow.

The hosts have again named an initial combined squad for the first team and Panthers, who are also at home.

Threequarters Charlie Allen and Jake Bishop are both included.

On Sunday, Pock stage their annual Sportsman’s Lunch, where ex-England prop and rugby media pundit Jeff Probyn is the main speaker.

York RI return from a week off with a trip to Halifax Vandals.

Second-placed RI are chasing their ninth win ten games as they try to catch leaders Wetherby.