Otley RUFC have no relegation fears this season after the Rugby Football Union Council supported a resolution submitted by First Division Rugby to increase the size of National League One next season.

The resolution read: "That with effect in season 2006-07 National League One shall comprise 16 clubs. To achieve this at the end of season 2005-06 no clubs will be relegated from National League One for this season only and two clubs will be promoted as usual from National League Two."

Council voted 44 to two in favour of the resolution with one abstention.

Promotion in the National Leagues is not affected by the Council decision.

The team finishing top of National One is promoted to the Guinness Premiership and the teams finishing 13th and 14th will not be relegated at the end of the 2005/06 season.

The top two teams in National Two are promoted, teams finishing 12th and 13th are now not relegated, the team finishing 14th is relegated.

The top team in both National Three North and National Three South is promoted.

The teams finishing second in each division play-off for the final place in National Two.

The top teams in South West One, London One are promoted into National Three South and the top teams in Midlands One and North One are promoted into National Three North.

The teams in 11th and 12th place in SW1, L1, M1 and N1 are relegated along with two of the four teams finishing in 10th place decided on playing record.

Promotion/relegation between the Guinness Premiership and National League One is not affected by this Council decision.

The current one-up, one-down system is in place until June 2009 under the terms of the Long Form Agreement between the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby Limited.

There is a certain amount of relief in that Otley will definitely be in National Division One next season, however it does take the edge off the remaining fixtures.

Otley were without a game last Saturday. There next fixture is away to Pertemps Bees at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday, March 25.

Last Saturday Otley Saracens enjoyed a 34-10 win at Halifax Dukes.They were soon on the attack and Ian Miller beat the cover for a try in the corner. Boosted by this success they were soon back on the attack and the forwards drove over following pressure in the Halifax 22, Richard Pyke claiming the try.

Saracens were playing with confidence and when the pack won a turnover the ball was quickly transferred to Alistair Monks who worked a switch move to open the home defence and Xavior Andre was up in support to race over. Halifax stung by this reverse came back strongly and Otley left a gap which the home side took advantage of to score a good try.

The Otley pack set up a rolling maul before laying the ball back for scrum-half Tom Boyle to scamper in making it 20-5 at the break.

Halifax, with advantage of the slope, tried to go up a gear but Otley covered all their attacks until midway through the half when they ran out of tacklers to concede a try in the corner. Otley came back and set up a line-out in the home 22 and a good forward drive saw Matthew Harrison power over, Monks converting. In the dying minutes a slick move was completed by Matt Cook who had made a good debut at full-back. Monks converted to complete an encouraging team performance.