HIGH-FLYING Pocklington RUFC are gearing up for a crunch top-of-the-table trip to Cleckheaton in North One East tomorrow (2.15pm).

Leaders Pocklington have won seven of their eight games this season, while second-placed Cleckheaton have tasted defeat only once in their seven outings.

A Pocklington spokesman said: “Cleckheaton are an experienced outfit who have been in the national leagues for several seasons.

“They were probably the best side we met in the second half of last season, beating us 26-7 at Cleckheaton in February, so a tough test is expected.”

Pocklington have delayed final selection, naming an initial squad of 21 players.

Malton & Norton received a boost on the eve of their home clash with Morpeth when influential back rower and skipper Sam Triffitt was declared fit.

Triffitt suffered an ankle ligament injury in last weekend’s disappointing 42-30 defeat at Northern but the damage is not as bad as was first feared.

Fielding an unchanged side has been a rarity for Malt this season, but spokesman Bill Laidler is hopeful of some continuity tomorrow.

“The team will be very similar to last weekend – but we are hoping for a better performance,” he said.

“You don’t score five tries very often and not come away with a win. The defence was poor, but we have addressed that this week.”

Malton & Norton have won only three of their opening eight fixtures, but Laidler is aiming for an upturn in fortunes.

“We have played nearly all of the teams above us in the table and very few of the sides below us,” he said.

“So we’ve had a tough start to the season, which hasn’t been helpful with all the injuries.”

The Ryedale side will still be without the Newitt brothers, Henry and Tom, at The Gannock tomorrow, while coach Chris Creber will again be absent from the touchline.

Creber is serving a club suspension, banning him from Saturday coaching duties, as he awaits a Rugby Football Union hearing into his dismissal from the sideline for dissent in last month’s defeat at Pocklington.

He will appear before RFU chiefs on November 14.

York and Selby are both looking to bounce back from defeats in Yorkshire One.

Fourth-placed York host sixth-placed Ilkley at Clifton Park in the wake of their 25-21 reverse at Heath, while the Swans travel to struggling Pontefract on the back of last weekend’s 23-15 loss at home to Old Brodleians.

In Yorkshire Four, York RI are away to Stocksbridge.

• Pocklington RUFC will host the under-11s and U12s East Yorkshire Festival at Percy Road on Sunday, starting at 10.30am.