BATTLE-HARDENED Malton & Norton RUFC go into their make-or-break promotion play-off against Morpeth tomorrow having had “just the test they needed”.

The Gannock outfit travel north with confidence to meet the runners-up of Durham & Northumberland One - for a place in North One East - after matching runaway Yorkshire One leaders Doncaster Phoenix for an hour last time out.

Despite going down 39-13, club chiefs felt the scoreline, against a South Yorkshire outfit who had won every single one of their 26 league games, didn’t reflect the game.

And with neither side backing off, it was the physical workout the Ryedale side required as they prepare to put it all on the line in Northumberland.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “It was a hard game and the best we could have had before we go into a game like Morpeth.

“It was just what we needed. It will be hard and close against Malton and there is a big home advantage up there.

“But Morpeth won’t have played a game as intense as we did against Doncaster. They may not have had a game like that during their whole season.

“It gives you a bit of confidence and we hope to have back Tom Newitt and, possibly, Sam Triffitt.

Nick Daley may also be ready to come back in at fly-half.

“It would mean a lot to get back into North One East. Yorkshire One is a hard league and anyone can beat anyone. That isn’t the case in Durham/Northumberland One. There are two or three teams up there who are strong.”

Morpeth warmed up for the make-or-break encounter with a 46-13 victory at Consett but they may be disappointed at having missed out on the title - and automatic promotion - by only three points to Guisborough.

Twelve points clear of Durham City in third, Morpeth lost only three games all season and were undefeated on their own patch.

Ominously, though, for the Ryedale side, they won five of those games without conceding a single point.