Malton & Norton on a roll to savour Northern high (From York Press)

Malton & Norton on a roll to savour Northern high

10:43am Friday 26th October 2012 in Rugby Union

Malton & Norton RUFC will welcome back injured duo Paul Dobson and Alex Whittaker to face Northern in North One East, writes Jamie Presland.

Tom Newitt could also return as Malt look to build on their 37-19 victory over Darlington last weekend, which saw them claim back-to-back wins for the first time this term.

Malt will want to continue the good form that has seen them overpower Darlington and Durham in recent weeks, knowing a win could see them rise to sixth in the table.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “We are fairly strong at home. The team will be very much the same as last week except for the players coming back. Two of them will definitely play and we have our fingers crossed for the third.”

Pocklington have the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways as they face a Keighley side who haven’t won since September in North One East.

Last weekend’s defeat to Northern ended a run of three straight victories for Pock.

They failed to score for the first time this season as they were overrun at Northern, their first defeat since mid-September.

But Pock have lost just once at home this season and will fancy their chances against fellow promoted side Keighley, who they beat home and away in last season’s Yorkshire One.

Pocklington have a squad of 18 players available as they bid for a fifth win of the campaign.

York face a stern test as they travel to third-placed Ilkley.

The visitors will be looking to build on their triumph at home to Heath and inflict a second consecutive Yorkshire One defeat on Ilkley.

York currently sit ninth in the table with three wins from eight games, but have won on the road just once this campaign, at Dinnington last month.

Their topsy-turvy season took a step in the right direction with the 57-17 win over Heath last weekend, their first victory since September 22.

But Ilkley are unbeaten at home this season and will be hoping to respond to their narrow defeat at Pontefract last weekend as they bid to keep the heat on runaway leaders Huddersfield YMCA.