WHARFEDALE'S John Lawn will lead Yorkshire when they begin their defence of the Tetley's Bitter County Championship against Durham at The Avenue, Threshfield a week tomorrow.

Hooker Lawn, who collected the trophy when Yorkshire beat Devon at Twickenham two seasons ago, is one of four Wharfedale players in the squad, club captain Andy Hodgson, lock David Lister and flanker Hedley Verity joining him in a very strong side.

Rotherham, newly promoted to the Zurich Premiership if their application succeeds, also supply four players, and with Otley contributing another quartet, Durham should be facing a very tough task.

The Yorkshire line-up for the game, which kicks-off at 3pm, is:

P Massey (Rotherham); S Dixon (Rotherham), P Greaves (Otley), A Hodgson (Wharfedale), M Kirkby (Otley); C Stephens (Sedgley Park), A Brown (Otley); S Bunting (Rotherham), J Lawn (Wharfedale) capt, R Latham (Sedgley Park), D Cook (Rotherham), D Lister (Wharfedale), J Dudley (Harrogate), H Verity (Wharfedale)/G Wilson (Wakefield), J Burke (Otley). Replacements: R Winney (Wakefield), S Binns (Otley), R Kelly (Otley), I Salkeld (Harrogate).

oWharfedale have been drawn at home to Hull Ionians next Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Yorkshire Cup.

The Dalesmen moved into the third round of the competition courtesy of a 41-8 victory at York on Tuesday.

"I'm suggesting to Ionians that we kick-off at 7.30, but I haven't had confirmation of their response," says Director of Rugby, Michael Harrsion. "They are obviously having a very good season and will be a real test, even at home."

oNorth Ribblesdale end their Yorkshire Division One programme by entertaining champions-elect Hull tomorrow at Grove Park.

The East Yorkshire club have already wrapped up the title with an impressive 37-point haul from 21 games to date, with only two defeats, and they will not be expecting to slip up at Settle.

But Hull's approach regarding last season's fixture has not been forgotten by the Dalesmen and as a couple more points would virtually ensure Ribblesdale's Yorkshire One survival, it seems that the game will be keenly contested.

In normal circumstances, Ribblesdale would be clear from the threat of relegation, but the fate of clubs at Yorkshire One level depends on the performance and geographical location of those in leagues above.

However, a win against Hull would lift the Settle side at least one place - and possibly two - so they have everything to play for.

Skipton have third place in their sights if they can pick up one more win from their remaining games against West Leeds, who they visit tomorrow, and Dinnington.

While the collective ambition may not be too intense, for Paul Lacy a place in the history books beckons. He is one try behind the club scoring record of 34 set by Charlie Branston.

A week's delay in his departure to New Zealand means that Duncan Brown will have a second farewell, while Jon Sharpe teams up at centre with him.

With Cameron Marcroft on his travels, Mike Beech takes the scrum-half berth, while in the pack, teenager Chris Wright has another run at flanker.

Skipton: D Howson; P Lacy, D Brown, J Sharpe, A Hill; A Oldfield, M Beech; P Jenkinson, D Hayes, N King, G Newhouse, A Winthrop, C Wright, I Scrivin, J Morgan. Replacements: R Birks, M Davison, M Cox.

North Ribblesdale: from - G Evans, S Spensley, S Devoy, J Richards, S Cowperthwaite, S Kennedy, S Evans, J Thwaite, M Throup, A Bradley, P Pawson, D Stacey, S Boatwright, M Carr, R Kirkbride, S Heal, M Mortimer, W Garth, B McGeoch and C Wallbank.