YORK RUFC coach Lee Denham has emphasised the importance of a good result tomorrow at strugglers Wheatley Hills, as he believes an undefeated campaign is the only way to ensure success in such an unpredictable division.

With the new year comes a new set of challenges for the Clifton Park outfit, who will most likely be protecting their 100 per cent winning record in Yorkshire One when they travel to second-placed Scarborough next week, before facing fellow high-fliers Heath home and away.

These tough fixtures give Denham all the more reason to want a result tomorrow, and he remains cautious about the trip to South Yorkshire, admitting that both the team and pitch are relative unknowns for him, while being wary of a surprise result.

He said: “It’s a small pitch, which doesn’t play to our strengths, and I've heard it holds water, so it could be a boggy game.

“We need the weekend to go well with Scarborough up next – we put quite a few points on them last time, but at their place it’s going to be totally different. Heath are a fantastic team too.

“Anything can happen in Yorkshire One – we saw that with Old Brodleians going down at North Ribblesdale, who also put 28 points on us. We’re in a good position now, but if we lose a couple of games, it will look different.

“To make sure of anything, we’ll need to go the whole season unbeaten. I can't promise anything, but that's the aim!”

Training continued at Clifton Park over the three-week break from matches over the Christmas period, which had good attendances, while the rest has also provided recovery time for injured squad members.

Denham said of tomorrow's team: “There will be a few changes from the last game. We’re back up to a very strong squad – missing only one or two – which we haven’t had for quite a while.

“We’re a very good team – we work hard for each other, and we’ve just got to keep playing well, getting the wins and the bonus points.”

Yorkshire One basement side Selby are at home to Scarborough. The hosts’ only win of the campaign came over two months ago, while the Seasiders have only lost three all season.

Pocklington’s first North Premier game of 2018 is a crucial home encounter with Birkenhead Park. Both sides sit near the foot of the table, and Pock can leapfrog their visitors with a win.

September's meeting between the sides ended 22-22 after Pocklington let slip a 22-3 half-time lead.

Malton & Norton host Huddersfield YMCA tomorrow in North One East as Malt look for a repeat of the reverse fixture’s result, a 28-22 win.

York RI travel to Yorkshire Four bottom side Rossington Hornets, who have been forced to concede their last four games.

RI sit 45 points ahead of their hosts, who are cemented to the bottom on -25, and have two games in hand on the majority of the rest of the division.