A HAT-TRICK of wins are being targeted by Malton & Norton as they battle against the drop from North One East.

The Ryedale side travel to relegation rivals Morpeth on Saturday (2.15pm kick off), while bottom two Sheffield and Middlesbrough meet in South Yorkshire.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “We are at Morpeth and we have to win there. We are two points ahead of them but they have a game in hand, so a win would keep us clear of them.

“It is very tight at the bottom but it will become a bit clearer after this weekend with everyone playing each other.

“It is not going to be decided - I think it will go right to the end. We need three wins at least to steer clear.

“We have still got to play teams like Morpeth, Middlesbrough, Sheffield and Driffield, so it is very much in our hands.”

The Gannock club were without a first team fixture last weekend due to a break for cup matches and there are no injury concerns lingering from their 13-10 defeat by Northern the previous week.

Fly-half Charlie Ramsay is definitely out due to exams at university, with James Bulmer or Nick Daley fighting it out to take his place in the starting line-up.

Bulmer and Daley, meanwhile, starred for Malt seconds in their 27-13 victory at Pocklington seconds on Saturday.

The second string have been out of action for several weeks due to the weather and they struggled to get into gear playing against the wind in the first half.

After an even first 30 minutes, Malt infringed in kicking range and a couple of penalties were converted by Pock, before they grabbed a soft converted try to lead 13-0 at the break.

Fly-half Sean Quinn, outside centre Daley and full-back Bulmer were instructed to use the elements in the second period and pen Pock in their 22-metre area.

Gary Davies bagged Malt’s first try of the match and then there was a great support try from Charlie Caygill.

Mike McCourt finished off a superb move involving most of the team, and he then touched down for an individual try.

Another period of sustained pressure brought Tom Boyle an opportunist try, converted by Paul Angus as Malt scored 27 unanswered points in the second half.

Malton & Norton thirds beat Driffield 29-7 at the Gannock on Saturday.

Miles Duncan crossed for two tries and there was also a touchdown by Matthew Midgeley as Malt took a 19-0 half-time lead.

Midgeley went in again after the break and then Joe Tenge rounded off the Malt scoring before Driffield bagged a converted try as a consolation.