MALTON & NORTON’S shock defeat to Selby last week all but handed Doncaster Phoenix the Yorkshire One title - but the Ryedale side still have a play-off place to lock up as they entertain Wath-on-Dearne tomorrow.

The Gannock side know victory will mean nearest challengers York, 18 points behind in third, would have to win and claim bonus point scores from all their remaining games - with Malton losing every match - to overhaul them.

It is an unlikely scenario and Malton want to claim second place, and a play-off game with the runners-up in Durham & Northumberland One for a spot back in North One East, as quickly as possible.

Having had their 16-game winning run ended by Selby in a 22-14 defeat, head coach Chris Creber’s outfit are aiming to bounce back against a Wath side fighting for their lives at the foot of the table.

Malton must reorganise with fly-half Nick Daley set to be out for sometime with a broken collar bone. South African centre Siya Moabi, who has played the position before, will step in.

Skipper Sam Triffit is also missing, after going off last week with a hamstring injury. Rob Armitage is expected to come in at centre.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “Everyone has days off. If we had taken our chances against Selby we would have been 30 points up at half-time. Mathematically, one win would probably see us in the play-offs and that is what is being stressed.

“If we can settle that quickly we can start looking towards that game rather than anything else.”

York face a trip to unbeaten leaders Doncaster Phoenix. The South Yorkshire side have won every one of their 21 league games, although they were beaten by the Clifton Parkers in the Yorkshire Shield earlier in the season.

Head coach Sean Bass is hoping to revive memories of that win.

“It’s a big ask,” he said. “People around Yorkshire will expect us to be beaten. I don’t want that. I want to turn them over. Someone has got to beat them (in the league). If they go unbeaten through the season then all respect to them. We have got to go there and get into them.”

Billy Cakaunitabua has been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury and Sam Arkle comes in as his replacement.

Selby will be missing Alex Webster as they look to back up their Malton heroics by winning at Middlesbrough. Rob Taylor is expected to ome back into head coach Richard Nicholson’s squad - probably on the bench - and the Sandhill Lane chief wants another victory.

York Press:

BACK IN THE FRAY: Selby's Rob Taylor

“I was pleased with the reaction from the previous week when we were poor at Hullensians,”

Nicholson said. “It shows you don’t become a bad side overnight.

We stood up and defended heroically, especially early on, and we were chuffed to come out on top.

“It shows we can compete at the top. They look sure to get promotion and good luck to them. We are going to Middlesbrough and it is going to be tough. I haven’t been there since my colts days. We have got outstanding results this season and then not backed them up.

“We have to back up the hard work from last week and put another good performance in. If we play like we did last week then I am really confident we can do that.”

York RI, buoyed by a 10-10 draw at second-placed Halifax, will look to improve on their fifth position in Yorkshire Four when they host the team immediately below them - Leeds Corinthians - at New Lane.

Pocklington head coach Mick Watson takes his side back to where his Premiership career began tomorrow. They travel to West Hartlepool in North One East, where Watson first played before moving south to Harlequins.

Pock have yet to finalise their lineup, with forwards Archie Fothergill, James Wilkinson and Matt Davies all returning.