REJUVENATED YORK RI are reaping the rewards of hard graft in Yorkshire Four this season.

The New Lane outfit have endured hard times in recent campaigns but have surged up this league ladder this term - winning five of their first six matches as they start to look like serious contenders for promotion.

RI go to Ossett tomorrow looking to record six of the best and scrum-half Brendan Aherne, a former team captain, believes hard work and sticking together during tough times is now seriously paying off.

"We have had a good pre-season," said Aherne who has been with the club since junior days. "This year we managed to keep a core of our players and also recruit a few new lads. We are running a second team for the first time in a couple of years so there is competition for places.

"There is a really good atmosphere and everyone is working really hard. There's a real momentum growing and a spirit within the club. That is encouraging people and bringing the best out of them.

"Going through lean times is tough at any club. We have got a group of players who have stayed together through those times and those same players have now pulled out all the stops.

"It is a close knit group and it makes all the cold winter nights when you are getting beaten seem worthwhile."

Linking up with French outfit Argeles-sur-mer has also brought talented players to RI and Aherne says a "positive feeling" surrounds everyone at the club.

He added: "Our head coach Dan Coates put together a tough pre-season and we are getting the pay-off we have deserved. The thing about the Yorkshire Leagues, though, is that all the games are really tough. Every side is physical and any lapses in concentration comes back against you.

"Ossett are always a tough team to go and play and we will have to go and do the hard graft. I think there is a positive feeling around the club and we can go there confident we can score points."

A winning mentality is also evident at Malton & Norton, who will look to put some pressure on unbeaten Doncaster Phoenix at the top of the Yorkshire One table by claiming derby bragging rights at Scarborough.

Their 32-26 success over Pontefract made it five wins from seven games and has given them a four point cushion in second place in the league ladder.

After struggling last season in relegation from North One East, the quintet of victories so far this term has seen confidence soar at The Gannock, and a healthy squad are making their mark.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: "We are certainly getting some momentum and the winning culture. Once you get that, you can play badly and still win. It's a derby game for us. It will be cold, it will be windy and that does make a difference up there.

"We have made only one change from last week. Ian Cooke comes in onto the wing, after being out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, and Ben Woodhouse is on the bench.

"Ian is an outstanding player in the three-quarter line."

On their prospects, he added: "Last year, we were just unlucky. There were people who had niggly injuries like hamstrings and muscle pulls. This season, we haven't had that.

"It's all to play for this time. Doncaster Phoenix have had some very close results and Selby ran them close last week. They are not insurmountable."

York, who came out of their war with Yarnbury with a 20-20 draw, bid to overwhelm struggling Heath in Yorkshire One while, in the same division, Selby could do with a win against Hullensians at Sandhill Lane to lift them up the table.

Pocklington, meanwhile, travel to Newcastle to meet Northern in North One East. Skipper Ben Rees is away so Panthers captain Alex Smith steps in at scrum half.