Skipper missing for Otley opener (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Skipper missing for Otley opener

12:30pm Thursday 28th August 2008 in Sport By Bill Marshall

Otley start their National League One season on Saturday with the first of their six Yorkshire derbies.

They are at ambitious Doncaster Knights, who will be looking to better their fourth place of 2007-08.

Otley, promoted last season, will be without skipper Dan Hyde but will still have plenty of competition for back-row places with the likes of Wharfedale’s Rob Baldwin having joined the club.

CLECKHEATON, who have signed 13 players – including skipper Craig Rika, who has rejoined them from Morley – have a pre-season warm-up at BRADFORD & BINGLEY.

The visitors from North Division One also have a contingent of South Africans, thanks to the influence of their backs coach Doug Trivella.

Cleckheaton have retained Lance Hamilton, Tom Lauriston and Carl Mason, among others, but have lost Steve Worsley, Dominic Castle and, at least temporarily, Jim Lamptey to Halifax.

The Bees welcome back Steve Brimacombe in the centre and pair him with Liam Frost, one of the new signings from Ilkley.

Bradford & Bingley have already played one pre-season clash, defeating Edinburgh Academicals 28-19 at Wagon Lane two weekends ago in a performance that proved they were further along the road than they thought.

Although the derby will be played in two 40-minute segments, John Dudley (Cleckheaton) and Neil Spence and Stuart Dixon (Bees) have agreed to the use of rolling substitutes.

WHARFEDALE are giving the chance to teenagers Chris Howick (open-side flanker) and Mark Simpson (wing) at home to Kendal in another Saturday pre-season friendly.

The bench also features two newcomers – England Under-20 hooker Scott Freer and back-row Gavin Jones, who played in last season’s Yorkshire Under-20 side.

Also among the replacements are Yorkshire Under-20 captain Dan Hart, who has recovered from last season’s shoulder injury, and Steve Moon, back from his travels.

Kendal cut a swathe through North One last season with a 100 per cent record.

Bradford & Bingley (probable): Benny Greaves; Dave Moore, Liam Frost, Steve Brimacombe, Mark Kirkby; Matt Booth, Joe Bartlett; Ian Judson, Peter Scott, Rob Wilson, Barry Clark, Liam Sharpe, Richard Hughes, Dan Cookson, Neil Spence. Replacements to be announced.