CHRISTMAS has been a time of training for Selby RUFC - and head coach Richard Nicholson is hoping his team will get their rewards tomorrow.

The Swans entertain Wath-on- Dearne in Yorkshire One having tried to avoid indulging in the more unhealthy aspects of the festive period.

“We haven’t had that much of a break,” Nicholson said. “We have been doing extra Saturday sessions and have trained every other day.

We have been doing everything we can to keep the players fit.

“We’ve not been doing too much contact stuff but they have not been sat on their backsides.

“Hopefully, we will have a fast start and that is the way we are striving to play.

“Wath are a tough side. They are usually very physical and they are a Yorkshire One pack - very sizeable. That presents us with a lot of challenges. We are hoping they are not as fit as us and we can move them about a bit.”

Nicholson is keeping his fingers crossed that club captain Dan Porter, who has spent the last three months out following an operation to fix a hernia, could be available.

“It is unfortunate that he’s had to have the operation but he looks after himself very well,” he added.

Home games are the key for Malton & Norton, reckons club spokesman Bill Laidler, as they try to return to North One East at the first attempt.

Heath come to The Gannock with Malton in second place in the Yorkshire One table - only trailing runaway leaders Doncaster Phoenix.

With two promotion spots up for grabs, Laidler feels that teams like Heath must be dispatched on familiar ground as the second half of the campaign gets under way.

“We’ve had two games against them, both of which were away, early in the season,” he said. “The first was 57-0, or something like that, and the second game was a lot closer.

“We have improved immeasura - bly since then. We are at home and Heath are struggling to get some results - but they are still a hard side to play against.

“We have got to win our home games and crack on from there. We have got Middlesbrough next week at home and the players are eager to get stuck in after a month off.

“I wouldn’t think there will be too many changes from previous weeks. It will be very much the same squad.”

York resume with a trip to Pontefract in Yorkshire One while, a division higher in North One East, Pocklington face their longest trip of the season when they travel to Alnwick.

Pocklington had a comfortable 26-10 victory when the sides met at Percy Road in September. But Alnwick have come into better form in recent weeks, winning three of their last four league games, while Pocklington will be looking to get players back from injury and improve their results in the second half of the season.

York RI have another week to work off the Christmas dinner before their return to Yorkshire Four action against unbeaten leaders Wetherby on January 10.

Having won eight of their first 11 games, head coach Dan Coates is satisfied with the club’s progress so far.

“We are moving forward as a club and not just the first team. The junior side and ladies’ section are building and everyone is enjoying themselves and enjoying the club atmosphere,” he said.