Rugby Union: Clash of Yorkshire One champions at Gannock (From York Press)

Rugby Union: Clash of Yorkshire One champions at Gannock

11:29am Friday 7th September 2012 in Rugby Union

NEWLY-PROMOTED Pocklington RUFC and Malton & Norton collide tomorrow in a mouth-watering North One East derby at The Gannock.

Reigning Yorkshire One champions Pock opened their campaign with a stunning 20-18 victory at Middlesbrough last weekend, while Malton, promoted the previous year as top dogs, went down 23-6 at Morpeth.

Pock make only one addition to the 18 that figured in their win in the North East.

Teenage back Jack Fletcher is added to the squad.

Fletcher learned his rugby in Leicester, but is returning to his roots. His grandfather, Bill, was a St John’s College and Pocklington fly-half in the 1950s and 1960s, while his father, Mark, played on the wing at Percy Road in the 1980s before relocating to the Midlands for work.

Hosts Malton, meanwhile, will be hoping to field a stronger side as players return from holidays and farming commitments.

Malton spokesman Bill Laidler said: “It was not a good day at the office for us at Morpeth.

“They were deserved winners but we gifted them most of their points, which must cause some worry.

“Hopefully, the lessons will be learned and, with the return of some of those still absent because of holidays and farming commitments, things will be much brighter for the visit of high-flying Pocklington.”

York have named a 20-man squad to face Bridlington in Yorkshire One at Clifton Park tomorrow.

There are debuts for University of York student Fraser Kirkley and army signaller Dave Bates, while Lance Hamilton makes his home debut at number eight and Freddie Portykus returns from a trip to Australia.

The under-19s kick off their season at home to Moortown on Sunday (12.30pm).

Selby are hoping to make it two wins from two matches in Yorkshire Two as they host Leodiensian after toppling Hullensians 20-7 last weekend.

York RI, thumped 77-0 at home by Baildon in their Yorkshire Three opener, travel to Bramley Phoenix tomorrow.