YORK RUFC head coach Sean Bass expects his men to “grab the bull by the horns” when they go to Knottingley in Yorkshire One tomorrow.

The Clifton Park chief was a frustrated figure after his side shipped 21 points in the first 15 minutes against Keighley last week – a deficit which proved too large to recover from as they rallied to a 24-15 defeat.

It has resulted in a shuffled pack as York look to get back to winning ways and Bass searches for the formula that will bring his young, but talented, side the consistency they need to challenge at the table summit.

“Knottingley are on a bit of a roll,” he said. “It’s a big game that we want to win. We want to carry on and build for the future. I’ve made a couple of changes. Richie Roberts is back at open-side and Sam Arkle, who has been away with work, returns.

“Sam Potrykus has done very well in the centres so we have pushed Arkle to the wing. We have move Jim Rossington into the second row and Sam Thorpe is back in the back row having had some time away.

“He is very robust, he’s a big lad and it is good to have him back. The back row looks very balanced at the moment. Joe Maud has come back from Harrogate and we thought he could play at number eight.

“He’s starting to show some real leadership qualities.”

In-form Pocklington, second in the Yorkshire One table, will be without top points scorer Nick Bennett as they travel to seventh-placed Scarborough on the back of a four game winning streak.

Former England junior Charlie Allen comes in as Bennett’s replacement, while regular try scorer Dan Pickard is fit again after a knee problem.