Malton and Norton RUFC travel to Alnwick for what should be their toughest North East Two test so far this season.

Alnwick drew with Huddersfield last week which, following Malton's defeat of Horden, meant that Malt took over sole occupancy of the top position.

Alnwick and Malton took the places of relegated York and Bridlington and both have adapted well to a higher grade of rugby.

Alnwick are renowned as dour battlers on their home territory but hopes are high in the Malton camp that the spoils will be brought back to Yorkshire.

Jason Simpson is not available at full back and Ian Cooke will fill that role with Tim Chapman taking Cooke's place on the wing.

Teenager Ryan Lonsdale replaces George Mosey in the centre and Jon Newsome will start the game at scrum half.

York skipper Andy Kay has recovered from the knock he took in last week's victory over Ponteland as the Northumberland One leaders bid to extend their unbeaten start to the league season.

They head to Durham/ Northumberland One side West Hartlepool Technical Day School Old Boys in confident mood.

For their tough-looking trip to Bridlington on Saturday, Selby find themselves having to make four changes to their starting XV, two of them positional.

The only change in the back division is the inclusion of Toby Pemberton at stand off in place of the unavailable Paul Scott.

In the forwards, prop Paul Gabel is unavailable and his place goes to Martin Allchurch, who had a promising debut against Keighley earlier in the season.

Mark Rollinson, who came on as substitute last week in the 41 points to 19 home victory over Wheatley Hills retains his place in the second row - Wright Phillips moves to number eight to accommodate him with Duncan Phillips reverting to flanker.

On the bench, Richard Topping makes his first appearance of the season with the squad. Prop John Kaye and utility back row forward Paul Randell keep him company.

Selby have yet to beat Bridlington in a league match having played them a total of four times. On their last visit to Duke's Park they were defeated 43-0.

Pocklington are away to Knottingley in Yorkshire Two - the first time they have met the West Yorkshire side in a competitive match.

Skipper Matt Atkinson is on holiday, and into the squad comes flanker Alex Stuart - brother of Scotland 'A' centre, Jon, who currently plays in France with Lyon.

In the backs, 17-year-old three-quarter Nick Bennett has been called up by Yorkshire, but Pocklington vice-captain and North Yorkshire policemen Guy Wilson is able to return after a week out with a shoulder problem.

In Yorkshire Three, York RI will have the experienced John Alexander and Garrett Mallon back in the pack for the trip to West Leeds after missing out last week.

Matthew Yates is out with a torn calf muscle so kicking duties will be taken on by either Richard Lightwing or Thomas Heslop.

Harrogate have made a spluttering start to the North Two season and are already out of the Powergen Cup after losing 29-28 to Bradford and Bingley last Saturday.

They return to Claro Road tomorrow for a league fixture against Esher and will be looking to tighten up their defence.

With the ball in hand Harrogate look as good as any side in the league, but lapses in defence have cost them dear, particularly late on, in several matches this season.

Updated: 11:00 Friday, October 08, 2004