AWAY form has cost York RUFC “dearly” declared head coach Sean Bass as he looked to galvanise his troops to gain a firm grip of third place in the Yorkshire One table.

While the performances of the Clifton Park side on home soil have been rock solid this season, Bass’ men have repeatedly suffered travel sickness and have endured a string of costly defeats that could cost them promotion.

Now in third place in the table, after recording a trio of successive victories, the Shipton Road chief wants his squad to be at their best against Yarnbury hosts who would overtake them with a victory tomorrow.

He said: “If you look at the games we have had on the road - Pontefract, Bridlington, Wath and Middlesbrough - if we had got something out of those games it would put us right in the mix.

“Four teams and four wins would have meant at least 16 points. We would be there with Malton & Norton.

We haven’t been good enough on the road but we are trying to get it right. We went to Selby in our last away game and grafted and got a really good win in a fantastic game.

“I expect exactly the same tomorrow. We need to get something out of it. If we lose, they are right in among it. If we win we will put them nine or ten points behind us. It would be nice to get another good win.”

Sam Blain comes into the pack for Will Norris who, Bass admitted, was unfortunate not to find a place on the bench after starring in the 67-19 hammering over Wath-on- Dearne last time out.

“He’s coming back from a long injury and is not quite there yet,”

he added. “He didn’t let us down for 55 minutes and it was difficult to leave him out. He will go into the twos, won’t whinge and whine and, if we call him back, will get on with it. He’s a great club lad.

“Selection at the moment is tough.”

Rich Roberts is likely to be among the replacements and Charlie Nicholson comes onto the wing to give York more pace out wide.

Malton & Norton are expecting another tough game when they travel to lowly Pontefract in Yorkshire One.

The Gannock-based outfit needed a late penalty to beat struggling Old Brodleians last weekend - grinding out their 14th successive victory to keep the pressure on Doncaster Phoenix at the top of the table.

“It was cold, wet and windy at The Gannock and the fact that any rugby at all was played was a minor miracle,” said club spokesman Bill Laidler. “There was never going to be any open, flowing rugby and the forward packs were going to decide the outcome.

“We travel to Pontefract when another tough encounter is on the cards against another side fighting the drop.”

Selby could do Malton & Norton a huge favour if they can find a way of inflicting the first defeat of the league season on leaders Doncaster Phoenix.

It will be a difficult ask for head coach Richard Nicholson and his squad against a South Yorkshire outfit that have won 18 straight games in Yorkshire One.

A big-game mentality could see York RI move up to second place in the Yorkshire Four table.

The New Lane club, in third in the standings, go to fifth-placed Skipton looking to firm up their promotion prospects.

Having eked out victories against Hornsea and Knaresborough, head coach Dan Coates is looking for his men to find the extra gear they have produced when taking on some of the league’s higher profile outfits.

“We are expecting a hard game,” he said. “If we win it - Halifax are playing top-of-the-league Wetherby - it should put us in second place and a win would hopefully put us four or five points clear of third and fourth place.

“As a team, we don’t play the greatest against the lesser teams. The lads raise their standards in a big game.

“We are already calling this year a successful one and we still want to be competing for something with four or five games to go.

“We haven’t had that for a long time and the atmosphere at the club is just getting better and better.”

Full-back Baptiste Brui won’t be making the trip, but Coates otherwise has a full squad from which to pick.

Pocklington travel to Halifax to meet Old Crossleyans in North One East.

Crossleyans are second bottom of the table, but are battling hard to get out of the relegation zone and have won their last four home league games.

Forward Joe Brown should be available, while Tom Peters successfully made his comeback off the bench last week and has had no reaction after previously being sidelined for a month with a shin problem. Tim Nixon also comes back into the squad.