OTAGO sevens star Kenton Leiataua has joined Malton & Norton RUFC in a coup for the North One East club.

The wing, who has also played for Dunedin Premier Rugby side Pirates in New Zealand, made his debut for The Gannock-based club in a 62-26 win at Durham City last weekend – joining his fellow Kiwi Pat Fifita.

He failed to get on the scoresheet in that game as Malton put on a ruthless display of rugby to dominate bottom-placed Durham in difficult conditions, but club chiefs are excited by his speed and his prospects.

“We got him through our contacts and he wanted to come across,” said club spokesman Bill Laidler. “He’s only been here a week and he is very quick. He is here for a couple of years and he has been brought in for next season more than anything.

“He’s a young lad, wanted to do a bit of travelling, and we are very excited about his arrival.”

Tomorrow, Malton meet a Darlington side struggling in the lower reaches of the table but, in Laidler’s opinion, they are likely to exhibit more spirit than Durham if the previous encounter between the two teams is any guide.

“We have exactly the same side,” he said of the squad that will line up at The Gannock. That means Fifita continues to be missing with a hamstring injury but try-scoring hero Ryan Lonsdale continues.

“We were a bit disappointed we gave away four tries last weekend and three of them were given away up front. When we played them in Darlington, again the week after Durham, they seemed to have a lot more spirit than Durham. They will certainly be a bit tougher and have had some good results recently but we would expect to have far too much for them in the backs.”

Pocklington have the first of two successive home games against North East opponents when they welcome Newcastle outfit, Northern, who are making their first ever visit to Percy Road in North One East.

When Pock travelled to Northern in October the home side were always in control and ran out 30-0 winners. Pocklington will be hoping to make home advantage count tomorrow but their opponents are in a good run of form having won six of their last seven games.

Pocklington add Josh Britland and Nick Bennett into the three-quarter mix.