RUGBY UNION

HORNSEA player-coach Steve Crook is expecting a tough encounter when his side take their title push to Sheffield Oaks tomorrow.

With seven league games to go in Yorkshire Five, the Hollismen are top of the table after picking up 70 points from their first 15 games.

Putting them 15 points ahead of nearest rivals Marist as the business end of the season approaches, Hornsea will be looking to get their promotion push back on track following a couple of weeks out of action following the adverse weather.

But Crook knows they will not have things all their own way at sixth-placed Sheffield, who have lost just one of their last six matches.

"We know we will need to do the basics right and play at a high tempo to keep Sheffield at bay," he told the Mail.

"We were quite lucky to get the points when we played them at our place and we know that on their day they are a match for anyone in the league.

"But we have said to the lads that we want a professional performance as the games are now gaining in importance week by week."

The Hollismen know there is still lots of work to do if they are to go up.

Back at the beginning of 2011, they were one of the favourites for promotion before a six-game win-less run destabilised their season. Eventually finishing seventh, the Hollismen are determined not to let a repeat of that happen this time around.

Sheffield Oaks XV v Hornsea, kick-off 2.15pm, meet 11am Hornsea, 11.45am South Cave, from: Nick Butterill (C), Rich Smith, Danny Morris, Tom Dawson, Jim Richardson, Tim Griffiths, Adam Mclatchie, Sam Clare, Mark Thomas, Danny Cook, Tom Copeland, Steve Crook, Adie Wadforth, Nick Hardgrave, Jon Bickerdike. Subs Alex Stokes, Nick O'Mahony, Jim Herzberg.