Malton and Norton are leaving selection to the last minute for their Yorkshire Shield quarter-final at home to Leeds Corinthians tomorrow (kick off 3pm).

Apart from centre Tim Chapman, who is on school duties at Terrington Hall, Malton have a full squad to choose from

With the fixtures piling up - Malton have had to postpone their Yorkshire Three league fixture at Old Otliensians in order to play the Shield tie tomorrow - and one or two Malton players with minor injuries it is anticipated that players who have recently been on the substitutes' bench might be given a run.

Following last weekend's magnificent win in the Tetley Vase, quarter-finals confidence is very high within the Malton club.

Competition for places is hotting up, not least at scrum half where the Newsome brothers are now being pushed by Spotted Cow barman James Bruce, who has recently arrived from New Zealand, and Malton schoolmaster Liam Harvey.

The unavailability of James Arkle and injury to Nigel Durham has given club stalwart Sean Bass an opportunity to show is versatility on York first team's friendly match away to Yorkshire One team Pontefract.

Bass, who has taken over the scrum half role as a result of injury during a match on a number of occcasions, has been selected to start in that position.

His position in the centre is taken by Alistair Hurst, who moves in from the wing.

Tom Heppleston, who came on as a substitute last Saturday against Darlington, takes Hurst's place.

Jim Hawcutt, returned from honeymoon, reclaims the open side flanker's berth in place of Chris Reed.

The only other change in the pack is the return of Gareth Roberts to the second row in place of second team skipper Simon Thornton, who has done a sterling job in recent weeks covering for injuries in the first team.

Pocklington first team do not have a scheduled match tomorrow, so the squad will have a training session at Percy Road, meeting at noon, before watching the Calcutta Cup match on television.

In the final week before rugby union's transfer deadline, Pocklington have lost the services of wing Ben Connolly, who, having recently moved from Hayton to live and work in Hornsea, has decided to join Hull.

Last season's skipper Darren Smith has rejoined Pocklington from North One outfit Bradford & Bingley, while Zimbabwe-born threequarter Phil Holland has returned to the club after a spell in Australia.

On Sunday morning, Pocklington stage a full programme of mini and junior rugby, with Pocklington Under 14s hosting a ten-a-side tournament for ten local clubs.

Pocklington will join Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Hull, Hull Ionians, Hullensians, Malton & Norton, York and Wetherby in the quick-fire tournament of 15 minute each way games that gets underway at 11am.

Updated: 16:35 Friday, March 02, 2001