MALTON & Norton need a victory at Huddersfield YMCA tomorrow after opening the North One East season with back-to-back defeats.

Spokesman Bill Laidler insists there was ‘much to admire’ in last week’s 34-20 defeat against league leaders West Hartlepool, but also says the team needs to improve on their lineout work.

Fly-half Ian Cooke is likely to be out of action all season after breaking and dislocating a wrist last weekend but flanker Sam Triffitt has recovered from the groin injury that forced his substitution.

On a positive note, front rower James Thornton is available again and second rower Jamie Rounthwaite plays for the first time this season after groin trouble.

Front rower Rob Featherstone is back on the bench.

After a disappointing day at Driffield last weekend, Pocklington return to Feathers Field tomorrow to entertain north-east side Guisborough.

The teams have had contrasting starts to the campaign – Pocklington starting with a good win before last week’s reverse, whereas Guisborough lost heavily on the first day then bounced back to beat Morpeth.

The two clubs have a history of close encounters, with Pocklington recording a ‘double’ last season but only by narrow margins.

Physio Lisa Wiles and her team have been treating a number of Pocklington players who have been carrying knocks.

Several will be undergoing treatment until late in the week and Pocklington have named a 20-man squad to cover all eventualities.

But the youth production line continues to roll, with Jed Jackson, the third generation of his family to pull on a blue and white hooped shirt, the latest junior to impress as a senior and keeping his place after doing well on debut off the bench at Driffield. Matty Procter, a regular fly-half for both Pocklington and the Yorkshire U18s last season, returns from holiday.

York RI RUFC will be hoping to record a first victory of the season at Hemsworth in Yorkshire Four.

WEEKEND TEAMS

Tomorrow

Pocklington (v Guisborough): Meet 1.45pm, kick-off 3pm. From: Fletcher, Nixon, Flint, Massie, Hardy, J Jackson, Saltmer, Procter, Rees, Borja, Birch, Morton, Kelly, Peters, Fothergill, Durkin, O Jackson, JL Holbrough, Ramiro, Brown.

Pocklington Panthers (at Scunthorpe): Meet 12.45pm, kick-off 3pm. From: Lucas, Scott, Walters, Fegurgur, Pascual, Britton, D Davison, O’Mallon, Whitton, Sellers, Elvidge, Papa, Simpson, Davies, E Davison, Britland, Brown, Jackson, Sturdy, Allen, Dalmody, Liversidge, Gilbank.

York RI (v Hemsworth): From: Lonsdale, Land, captain, McCarthy, Hartop, Weingarth, Thomas, Jones, Joy, Ward, Cuthbertson, Coates, Rossi, Lewis, Watson, Briu, Brentnall, Spencer, Skaith, Whitley, TBC.

Sunday

Pocklington U6, U7, U8, U9, U10, U11, U12 (training): Meet 10.30am, new players welcome.

Pocklington U13 (training): Meet 10.30am.

Pocklington U14 (v Malton & Norton): Meet 10am, kick-off 11am.

Pocklington U15 (at Malton & Norton): Meet 9.30am.

Pocklington U16 (v Malton & Norton): Meet 10am, kick-off 11am.

Pocklington Colts (v Driffield): Meet 11.30am, kick-off 1pm.