YORK RUFC head coach Lee Denham can't wait to see the back of the Rugby World Cup - so much so he's giving up tickets for the final.

The Clifton Parkers chief has seen his team's Yorkshire One preparations severely disrupted by the tournament, with players unavailable for duty as they have cheered their respective teams on during the past month.

It's a similar story tomorrow as York go to Yarnbury, looking to recover from last weekend's 41-16 home loss to Bridlington, with Denham again having to shuffle his squad ahead of the showpiece competition's semi-finals.

So he says he can't wait for it all to be over.

"Our shape is absolutely coming along and the players are buying into the ethos," Denham said. "We just need to convert our skill levels into points. When we do that, and turn up for the game properly, I can't see us losing.

"We have had too many changes - forced changes - week in and week out. Players are making themselves unavailable and it is the same this week. We are without Ben Johnson, Chris Peace, Campbell Thompson and Marc Benson is injured.

"We are not able to put out a set side and are changing eight, nine and ten every week. It's hard to get that continuity between forwards and backs. All the coaches are going through it. The Rugby World Cup is killing everyone.

"We are still getting players down for training on Tuesdays and Thursdays (who can't play on Saturdays). Even if the home nations were still in, which they are not, it is still a drain on Saturday rugby. I have tickets for the final.

"I have had tickets for every other game but I won't be using them. It was not a hard decision for me. I would rather be on the sidelines with my own team. I've got final tickets but they will be gone. I'll be offloading them.

"I can't expect to have a go at my players to turn down tickets for games when I disappear and go to watch a game instead."

Malton & Norton will also be depleted when they travel to Heath in Yorkshire One.

The Gannock-based outfit worked hard to beat a youthful Selby side 35-7 in a derby day battle as they kept up the pressure on Bradford & Bingley at the top of the table.

But it was a win that came at a cost and club spokesman Bill Laidler said of the result: "Although it was the pack who took the plaudits there were some fine performances elsewhere. Scrum-half Paul Angus had possibility his finest game for Malton and the defence of Vus Dyantjies and his cohorts in the three-quarter line ensured that the Malton line was rarely troubled.

"However, the injury list grows and, with almost an entire back line sidelined, coach Chris Creber will have to ring the changes yet again for the visit to Heath."

Selby host mid-table Bradford Salem as they look to get back on track in Yorkshire One, while Pocklington travel to joint league leaders Morley in North One East.

The Leeds side are traditionally one of Yorkshire's top clubs, but though Pocklington have only faced them infrequently over the years, their occasional encounters have usually been keenly contested. Pocklington expect to have skipper Ben Rees available after missing last week.

York RI, who moved up to fourth in Yorkshire Four after their 27-21 win against Leeds Corinthians at New Lane, enjoy home comforts once more as Hemsworth arrive in the Minster city.