MALTON & Norton RUFC say they have no reason not to be confident when they travel to North One East mid-table rivals Cleckheaton tomorrow.

Both sides have picked up in terms of results in the past few weeks, with Malt moving away from relegation danger and Cleck ending a run of seven consecutive defeats with three big wins.

Last Saturday, Cleck enjoyed a 45-14 home victory over West Hartlepool to move seven points ahead of the Gannock outfit, who did not have a game as opponents Bridlington were unable to raise a team.

Despite Malt's 18-10 home loss to Dinnington two weeks ago – in which Alistair Fothergill bagged their only try – they have moved 13 points clear of the bottom two with three wins from the last five.

And spokesman Bill Laidler believes the weekend's action – or lack thereof – has left the club in a reasonably good position. With none of the sides below them picking up points, Malt could even begin to relax their relegation concerns.

“It’s getting that way,” Laidler said. “We’d still like one, possibly two more wins. Last week all the results went in our favour.

“Cleckheaton are always a hard side to beat, especially at home. Knowing what our pitch is like, theirs will be heavy because it is very similar.

“Having come down from North Premier, they’ll be a handful and they had a big win at home last week which will do them the power of good.

“They’re only one place above us so it’s very close. It’s an important game, but all games are important now.

“I don’t think there are any significant absences, so we’ll be picking from strength. Having a weekend off, we’d expect to have everyone available.

“There’s no reason we shouldn’t be confident.”

North Premier bottom side Pocklington saw their visit to Harrogate last week postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

They remain nine points behind the next sides above them, Birkenhead Park and Morley who are, in turn, 17 points adrift of the next side up, Sandal.

Tomorrow, Pock pay a visit to 12th-placed Morley who have lost their last three away games – most recently 26-7 at Rossendale – but won their previous two home fixtures.

With second-placed Beverley not playing last week, Yorkshire One leaders York restored their nine-point lead at the summit following a 28-17 win at Moortown.

Tomorrow they welcome 11th-placed Bradford Salem to Clifton Park. Salem ended a five-game losing run with two victories in a fortnight, last week winning 24-17 at North Ribblesdale.

Selby picked up a crucial four points last week, winning 16-5 at bottom side Wheatley Hills to climb to 12th.

They travel tomorrow to fifth-placed Middlesbrough whose 21-3 win at Keighley two weeks ago was their fifth on the bounce.

York RI are at home on Saturday to unbeaten Yorkshire Shield leaders Bramley Phoenix, who last week saw off second-placed Hessle 50-17 at home.

After a strong start to the new division, RI have lost three consecutive games, including last week’s 45-5 defeat at fifth-placed Thirsk, to leave them fourth and 19 points off the top.