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The Clifton Parkers have learned from the RFU that they will play the upcoming season in Yorkshire One - bringing to an end their one-year sojourn in Durham and Northumberland One.

Their place in that league has been taken by Malton and Norton, who will now face a host of North East, rather than Yorkshire, names following last season's relegation from North 2 East.

For York, there was joy at the news with new chairman Niall Barry hailing the announcement as "great" for "supporters and players".

And there was no disappointment in Ryedale either, with chiefs at Malton and Norton saying they were looking forward to the challenge.

York will open their league campaign with a home match against Goole on September 3, while Malton will travel to Newcastle for an away tie with Ponteland.

But it is York's clashes with Selby, at Clifton Park on October 1 and at Sandhill Lane on February 18, 2006, which have whetted the appetite of club chiefs.

Barry said: "It (the move) is great news for York, our supporters and players. Although we enjoyed playing in the Durham and Northumberland league and we were always treated well, it was not good news for our travelling supporters some of whom travelled in excess of 1,200 miles to support their local rugby club.

"Our return to Yorkshire rugby has been extremely well received by everyone in the club, it will have a beneficial impact at the turnstiles and it will stir some local rivalries between Yorkshire clubs."

Bill Laidler, of Malton and Norton RUFC, said the club had been told that, like York, its stay in Durham and Northumberland One would also last for just one season - regardless of whether the club missed out on promotion.

"We are fairly happy with it. It is going to be different, with different sides that we haven't played before but it is just for one season," he said.

"Some of the travelling to the North East is easier than Yorkshire - with a route straight up the A19 so we are not too unhappy."

Updated: 11:14 Thursday, July 14, 2005