YORKSHIRE One's runaway leaders York RUFC will field a young side at home to North Ribblesdale – and head coach Lee Denham insists it is not a sign of complacency.

York’s young players have been a source of pride for Denham, who has gladly given them opportunities to bed themselves into the first team.

The win over Old Brodleians secured the Clifton Park outfit’s place in the record books – but was also notable for young Will Atkin’s solid performance off the bench and 18-year-old scrum-half Ali Bradford impressing on his debut.

Denham confirmed Bradford’s place in the York side for tomorrow, heaping praise on the starlet: “He will start again – he’s a really good young player with a good work rate, a good pass and he understands what we’re trying to do.”

Lewi Jackson, Kyle Consterdine and Tom Williams will also all feature, alongside the experienced Steve Johnson.

Denham said: “We’re fielding a young front row – but we’re not complacent in any way. I’m covering my bases with a strong bench, and we have old boy Johnson in there too.”

Joe Maud comes into the side on the bench, while Josh Parker will be rested, having taken a couple of knocks recently.

Neither side played last week, so Denham took the opportunity to have the first and second teams train together and work on shape and patterns. North Ribblesdale's last outing ended in a 26-6 loss at home to Beverley.

Tomorrow, the division's strugglers Selby visit 10th-placed Keighley, who won their game a fortnight ago 27-20 at Hullensians, while the Sandhill Lane side lost 35-22 at Old Rishworthians.

Pocklington play their final league game of the year on Saturday when they travel to semi-professional Hull in Yorkshire One.

Third-placed Hull are coached by Gary Pearce, the former dual-code Welsh international and Hull FC half-back who spent a decade as Pock’s player-coach from 1990-2000.

The Chanterlands Avenue outfit are currently third in the division, having won nine of their 12 fixtures this season, and their last five on the trot with a combined 208 points scored.

Hull’s game at Kirkby Lonsdale was frozen off last week, while Pocklington were made to pay the price for a lack of cutting edge in their forward ranks as they dominated long periods against Sandal, but went down 43-21 on their Kilnwick Park academy ground.

Malton & Norton have the opportunity to close in on Cleckheaton in North One East with a win at second-bottom West Hartlepool, whose haul of 19 points have all been earned at home.

Results went Malt’s way last week, as their nearest league rivals Bradford & Bingley were beaten by Bridlington in one of only two games played on Saturday.

Yorkshire Four York RI tomorrow travel to Sheffield Oaks, whose game last weekend did go ahead – and ended in a 28-12 loss at Stanley Rodilians.

Both sides’ most recent wins came on the same weekend at the start of November.