YORK RUFC coach Lee Denham is hopeful his players will arrive at Old Rishworthians with the right attitude after last weekend saw this season’s 100 per cent winning record ended.

Yorkshire One rivals Middlesbrough emerged 17-14 winners at Clifton Park, scoring with a late penalty after York had fought back to level the contest with two converted tries.

Although York are still 11 points ahead of the chasing pack in the division, the manner of the defeat is a disappointment to Denham and he cited the complacency that he had previously warned against as being a factor.

However, the team’s response to the loss has been positive, he said, with the team having put on a promising display in the week.

He said: “Some players just turned up with the wrong attitude – it’s been almost three years since we’ve been beaten at home, so maybe some were just thinking we’d turn up and win.

“We had a really good training session on Tuesday, so fingers crossed everyone turns up at the weekend.

“Old Rishworthians are a good side, and a bit of an unknown quantity – I don’t think any of us will have played there before.”

Stability seems to be the watchword for Denham, who shows continued faith in his side and their playing style, which he has seen reap its rewards over the course of the season.

The only major overhaul needed, it seems, will be their mentality, which may well come as a result of the reality check against Boro.

He stressed: “We just need to refocus.

“There will be some changes, but we’re trying to manage the injuries with as little change as possible.

“We’ve just got to carry on doing what we’re doing.”

As it stands, the Yorkshire One table could be divided into four groups – leading the charge are York, 11 points ahead of second-placed Beverley, on 62, who head a pack of five teams separated by a further 11 points.

Tomorrow’s hosts top the third ‘mini-division’ in seventh place with 38 points – behind Old Brodleians by 13, level with Keighley and three ahead of Moortown.

Strugglers Selby find themselves in the final group of five teams. They sit second bottom, seven points off the side directly above them, North Ribblesdale.

Selby were beaten 48-12 at Old Brods last weekend, and tomorrow are at home to Heath, who are undefeated in five.

Pocklington are seven points adrift at the foot of North Premier. Tomorrow they travel to mid-table Rossendale, who have won their last four league games after losing three on the trot.

Malton & Norton have slipped to 10th in North One East. Tomorrow, they host promotion-chasing Morpeth, who beat mid-table Huddersfield YMCA on Saturday, but the week before lost at 12th-placed West Hartlepool.

In the only Yorkshire Four fixture tomorrow, York RI will host fifth-placed Hessle. Both teams lost last week - Hessle went down 28-7 at Ossett and RI 24-15 at Stanley Rodillians.