HEAD coach Sean Bass has rung the changes as he tries to get his York RUFC side surging up the Yorkshire One table, writes Steve Carroll.

The Clifton Parkers suffered heartbreak - spurning a last- minute kick to win the game - as they went down 27-26 at Pontefract and they must get themselves up quickly for a home derby day battle with Scarborough tomorrow.

While the pack has “delivered” in recent weeks, Bass feels the club’s back line is struggling and has made sweeping alterations. In come Sam Potrykus, Sam Arkle and Billy Cakaunitabua, with Charlie Nicholson stepping up to the bench.

“We felt a need to do it. We have gone a bit stale and the backs have been a little bit quiet,” he said. “Sam Potrykus brings us forward running around the park and Sam Arkle, out wide, has pace and strong defence.

York Press:

PACE AND POWER: York's Sam Arkle

“Charlie Nicholson has been missing since the game against Bridlington. He played in the Boxing Day game and played in the Colts for me. He is going to be tried and tested. The pack is almost unchanged. They are doing the business. The backs are going to be better, though.

There is no doubt about that.”

Bass expects a hard examination from Scarborough, a team he believes York have “had a bit of history with over the last couple of seasons”.

He added: “They are having a similar season to us. They blow hot and cold and nothing reiterated that more than when we were over there. For 40 minutes, we were dominant and played fantastic rugby. For the other 40 minutes, they played fantastic rugby.

“We scored in the last minute of the game to turn it around and they will still be smarting from that and looking to get revenge. We have to front up and we have to take it to them.”

A tricky trip to Yarnbury awaits Selby, whose extra training work over Christmas was rewarded as they put 50 past Wath-on-Dearne last week.

Head coach Richard Nicholson will be without Ben Booth, with Duncan Hardy coming back in to the side after returning from Australia. Dan Porter, who played 25 minutes against Wath, is also expected to participate once again from the bench.

“Yarnbury have done really well,” he said. “We had a good win against them at our place earlier in the season. I don’t know if they have recruited, or found form, but they have put some results together and are playing very well.

“We have played them quite a lot over the years and had tough games against them. It is a challenging environment - a really heavy pitch - and that’s something we have got to adapt to. The injuries we have had over the last couple of months have been mainly in the backs.

“We have had to adapt the way we have played. Two or three of the lads are gradually coming back and, hopefully, as winter eases we can go back to playing how we enjoy playing. It is all about the enjoyment.