YORK RUFC will look to pick up the pieces of their shattered season by trouncing Billingham at Clifton Park tomorrow.

They take on the Teesside club in Durham and Northumberland One with only victory in mind after a heartbreaking defeat against Durham City in their last league match.

That 36-14 defeat dropped York to fourth place and leaves them with a monster challenge if they are to overhaul Durham and rivals Northern to take second spot and clinch a promotion play-off place.

With Northern away at runaway league leaders Percy Park this week, and Durham City facing the North Shields club the next, York still have a glimmer of light - but only if they take maximum points.

Even with that in mind, York are still depending on their rivals doing their job for them if they are to take the promotion race to the wire.

But Billingham will be an awkward test as they are sitting in mid-table with eight wins from 19 games.

A similar tie, a month ago at Ashington, proved to be the Clifton Parkers' downfall and that 20-19 defeat has proved to be vital.

For York, captain Andy Kay will move to No. 8 with Jeremy Clutton on the replacements bench. Nick Ventress and Sam Arkle will continue their centre pairing with Mike Ford and Graeme Smith the half-backs.

Craig Ventress also makes an appearance on the replacements, with Rob Kama, as always, York's main threat.

Malton and Norton will look to ease their North 2 East pains by recording a welcome league win at Sandal.

With no league wins in their last six games, Malton's fine start to the season has descended into mid-table mediocrity.

But with Sandal lying third bottom, with just six wins from their 19 encounters, it's a perfect chance for the North Yorkshire club to get back to winning ways before the season ends.

Although Malton have failed to pick up points in recent weeks, more than a couple of their defeats have been narrow and could have easily been turned into victories. So confidence at The Gannock will still be high in anticipation of tomorrow's encounter.

York RI, who will have welcomed the recent break from club affairs more than any other team, get back to action in Yorkshire Three with a clash against Bramley Park Phoenix at the Railway Ground.

It's been a tough start to the year for RI, who have been racked by injuries to key players and have not won a league match in 2005.

With six wins this season, RI are under no fear of relegation but they will want to end the season on a high with a couple of victories.

They are up against a side which is struggling to stay alive in Yorkshire Three, having recorded just three wins all season.

RI will be on their guard after a slow start against bottom club Hemsworth condemned them to defeat a few weeks ago, but will expect to take maximum points.

Updated: 10:14 Friday, April 01, 2005