YORK RUFC coach Lee Denham has expressed frustration at the lack of commitment from his players ahead of tomorrow’s Yorkshire One game with West Leeds.

Denham was without seven men for last week’s defeat by leaders Bridlington and has now used 35 different players in the club’s first five games of the season.

The former Leeds Tykes, Worcester, and Sale back row forward fears dressing room attitudes are changing for the worse in today’s modern game.

“I talk to a lot of coaches in the general vicinity, from Yorkshire One and above, and we are all having commitment issues with players,” he said. “It is very frustrating and it never happened this much in years gone by.”

Although injuries have ruled out some, others have been ‘unavailable’ due to holidays, weddings, and stag dos.

“Players have got different mindsets these days,” insisted Denham. “When I was a player, I would never have agreed to be a best man at a wedding if it was in the rugby season!

“And I remember when I got married, the coach only allowed me a week on honeymoon because it fell a week into our pre-season training.”

One man’s absence is another man’s opportunity, of course, and Denham has praise for the youngsters who have stepped into the breach. Fullback Tom Woffendin and centre Adam Penistone both impressed against Bridlington while there are second team players working hard in training.

West Leeds are second in the table after winning four of their first five games and include former Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors winger Mark Calderwood in their side.

“It will be a huge test and hopefully a really good game,” said Denham. “We are going to have to be at our best to stop them.”

Winger Will Dunlop, meanwhile, will be out of action for several months after fracturing his collarbone in three places last weekend.

Malton & Norton RUFC travel to Guisborough on the back of two consecutive victories in North One East.

The wins over Dinnington and Driffield have lifted M&N from the foot of the table to eleventh spot, leap-frogging tomorrow’s opponents along the way. Spokesman Bill Laidler, however, says the team still needs to do more with the ball.

“A win is the main object of every game but Malton must make better use of the possession they get,” he said.

Fourth placed Pocklington travel to Doncaster to play bottom-of-the-table Wheatley Hills who are still without a win after five games.

Pocklington are without the Holbrough brothers, Jack and Joseph, while teenage fly half Matt Procter will be out for several weeks after turning his ankle during the warm up before last Saturday’s win over Percy Park.

They have covered several halfback permutations in their initial 20-man squad, including utility back Nathan Saltmer, now at York St Johns, and putting Newcastle student Dan Elliot on standby.

Selby, who were beaten by West Leeds last week, host Yarnbury who are currently level on points in mid-table.

York Railway Institute host leaders Skipton in Yorkshire Four and will be looking to avoid a repeat of last week’s 45-0 thrashing by Burley.