nion's Dalesmen brings another season to a close on Sunday when the sons of the Wharfe and the Ribble meet at Settle.

There are neither league points nor trophies at stake for this encounter, but the local rivalry which transcends league status will ensure that the match, though coming at the very end of a disjointed season which has suffered badly in recent weeks, will be genuinely contested.

The truth of that, were anyone to question it, can be found in the fact that Wharfedale are expecting to field a near full-strength line-up, the only change to the pack on duty against Camberley in the league last weekend being the probable absence of Hedley Verity, who has knee trouble, and Craig Ingram, who is unavailable.

Behind the scrum, Neil Heseltine will check on an ankle injury, but is pencilled in on the wing, with Simon Walker continuing at fly-half after an impressive debut last weekend. Jonathan Davies is in the line-up at full-back, but utility back Carl Burnett, who has been playing for the Yorkshire Under 20 side along with flanker Ryan Gains - they were beaten by North Midlands last weekend at the semi-final stage - will definitely get a run at some stage.

"It's great to see that the lads all want to be involved at this stage of the season," says coach Peter Hartley: "It may be that they've missed so any games in recent weeks that they want to make get more games in before the season closes. Either way, I'm pleased to see that they all want to play and I'm sure it will be an enjoyable afternoon."

The meeting as always treated with keen anticipation by North Ribblesdale and the switch from the traditional Boxing Day match has done nothing to erode that enthusiasm. Over the last few years the fixture has produced some outstanding matches and given the pride and passion which accompanies these matches, it is unlikely that Sunday's game will depart from the norm.

The Grove Park men have one or two injury worries to sort out and select a squad of 22 players for the game.

While Sunday's match wraps things up for the two teams, for five of the Wharfedale players, the prospect of a trip to Twickenham still looms.

Yorkshire been invited to meet Cornwall on May 26 in a game which takes the place set aside for the final of the County Championship, which has been abandoned because of foot and mouth.

With league rugby finished on all fronts, the Yorkshire selectors have been able to choose from a high-quality field, which includes Rotherham, Wakefield and Otley from the elite end of the scale, together with all the other clubs, like Wharfedale, who have served the county so well in recent seasons.

Yorkshire have included 12 of last season's players in the provisional squad of 28 which will start a training programme at Sandal, while the other members all have some form of representative pedigree with the county.

For Wharfedale, the inclusion of lock Anthony Capstick for the first time is a well-deserved recognition of his form this season, as is the call-up of full-back Jonathan Davies.

Joining the pair are John Lawn, who will probably captain the side, David Lister and H