SECONDS away, round three!

Pocklington's last home North One East game of 2016 is a big East Yorkshire derby with oldest rivals Driffield at Feathers Field tomorrow (2.15pm) - and this time they will be looking for a knockout blow.

It will be the foes' third meeting in 13 weeks, with the scores standing at one game each after Driffield won the first league encounter at Kellythorpe in September by 41-29, before Pock gained Yorkshire Cup revenge in October with a 39-15 success.

The two clubs have been on different trajectories since, with Pock currently riding the crest of a wave, having followed up the stunning thrashing of leaders West Hartlepool with last week's victory at Huddersfield YMCA. They sit third.

Driff have lost their last three and are down in 11th, one place off the drop zone.

However, Pock spokesman Phil Gilbank says that his side "will not be taking their rivals lightly". He explained: "League form invariably counts for little in Pock-Driff derbies, with the visitors sure to raise their game.

"That was certainly the case in the corresponding league game a year ago when Pocklington looked nailed-on winners but Driffield refused to die and stole it at the end 22-20."

Billy Hardy's latest comeback attempt from his hamstring strain ended prematurely last Saturday, but flanker Johnny Wood and wing Tim Nixon are both back in the mix and were included in a provisional 23-man squad.

Malton & Norton have been told to "sharpen up their act" as they head into the second half of the season facing a dogfight - with arguably the toughest scrap of the lot next up.

Chris Creber's men go to West Hartlepool tomorrow, the fallen giants who are aiming to rise the tiers once more. Wests have lost twice this term, their latest defeat coming to a buoyant Pock two weeks ago, but are still clear at the top.

M&N, conversely, having looked on course for consolidation after excellent wins earlier in the season, are down in 12th, six points from safety after four straight defeats, with an immediate return to Yorkshire One a real danger.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “Malton must sharpen up their act quickly if they are not to lose contact with the teams above them.

“Quite how they can turn in some great performances against the higher sides in the league yet perform so miserably at other times is a mystery.

“They have shown they are a capable side but must hone their basic skills and decision-making to keep their place in North One East.

“Those areas will have to be addressed in the second half of the season if they are to avert a swift return to Yorkshire One.”

Selby likewise have been asked for improvements after their low-key performance in defeat to Heath last week had them looking over their shoulders at the relegation fight in Yorkshire One.

They travel to Hullensians who sit one place but seven points above them.

At the top end of the table, third-placed York face another crunch clash in their battle for the play-off berth.

Unlucky to be pegged back in their draw at high-flying rivals Old Brodleians last week, having been 20-5 and 27-10 up, tomorrow they host Scarborough in a key North Yorkshire derby.

Bridlington are running away with the title, 20 points clear after 13 wins from 13. But the next five teams are separated by only three points, with Old Brods now second, York third and Scarborough fifth.

Said a York spokesman: "Last week's was another game that should have been won but it was a decent performance largely and by far the best showing at Brods for a long time.

"We will have to up our concentration levels for the full 80 minutes this time."

York RI, top of the bottom half in Yorkshire Four, go to Stanley Rodillians looking to close the gap to the top half.

Nestle Rowntree have cancelled this weekend's Yorkshire Merit League fixture due a long list of injuries and unavailability.