BUOYANT Malton & Norton RUFC head to Bradford Salem in Yorkshire One tomorrow with one eye already on next season.

The resurgent Ryedale side secured their place in the top tier of county rugby with a win against Skipton last weekend – their seventh victory in eight games.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler hailed the home-grown strength in the Malton squad which helped to pull off a great escape from relegation.

“To have saved our place in Yorkshire One was vital for the club,” said Laidler.

“Hopefully next season we will have most of the current squad available and there are members of the under-19s who are ready to step up.

“When we beat Selby a fortnight ago, 15 of the 18 players used were products of our junior section, which bodes well for the club.”

Laidler put Malton’s improvement down to the return of key players from injury.

“We did struggle with injuries but we got one or two players back and it all seemed to fall into place,” he said.

“The likes of Ian Cooke, Carl Muscroft and Ryan Londsdale all made a big difference when they came back from injuries.

“It looked a long haul for us at one stage, but earlier in the season we lost three or four games by a total of ten points. If they had gone the other way, we would have had no problem.”

It could be the joy of six for York.

The Clifton Parkers entertain relegated Skipton looking to record their sixth win in succession.

It’s a run of form which has taken York to the brink of third place – they are currently fourth, a point away from Castleford but with a game in hand.

They name three changes from the team which beat Keighley 17-11 last weekend.

Ben Johnson returns to the scrum-half berth, replacing Matt Hargreaves, Lee Denham comes in at flanker for Joe Maud and James Arkle replaces Ross White in the front row.

Selby, like Malton saved from relegation, are not in Yorkshire One action this weekend. Pocklington, in Yorkshire Two, also have a free weekend.

Promotion-hunting York Railway Institute, without a game last week, return to Yorkshire Four action at New Lane against Leeds Medics and Dentists.

Off the top of the table after Rotherham Phoenix’s win, they are still in the driving seat for second spot – if they can continue to win until the end of the season.