YORK RUFC are taking their first steps towards the unknown.

The Clifton Park outfit are in training for life in Durham/ Northumberland One.

They were relegated from North Two East last season , but rather than drop back in to the Yorkshire One find themselves in Durham/ Northumberland One as a result of a change in the RFU's promotion and relegation rules.

The change was made to give certainty on the numbers relegated and promoted.

It resulted from the cascade system that could result in several teams being relegated from a county league depending on which teams were relegated from the various regional leagues above.

Unfortunately, in the first season under the new rules York became one of only two teams in the whole of the country that has to play in a different county league. This means that York will be playing against many new teams such as Ashington, Ponteland and Consett and also some old adversaries in Durham City and Percy Park.

York's head coach, Paul 'Stan' Matthews, is determined that this situation is only temporary and that York will bounce straight back into North Two East next season.

Matthews who has a long coaching pedigree, having been involved in coaching at Worcester, Sheffield and Leeds Tykes and coached Yorkshire Under 17s for a number of years, intends to use all his experience to develop a winning team.

Working closely with Matthews will be newly appointed skipper Andy Kay who learned his rugby at St Peter's School, York.

A former York Colt, the back row player in his sixth season of senior rugby at Clifton Park.

Kay said: "I am looking forward to skippering a young side that is steadily growing in both experience and stature.

"There is no doubt last season was disappointing but at the same time many invaluable lessons were learnt which can only help us in the long run. The coming season will be in many respects a step into the unknown as the club enters Durham and Northumbria One for the first time.

"Every game promises to provide us with a stern test which I am sure we will relish in our quest to return to North 2 East."

The new season will also see the York 2nd XV playing in the inaugural Yorkshire Merit Table Competition with a minimum of 16 games already arranged to be played in this competition.

York train at Clifton Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm with York fielding four teams each Saturday new players of any level of ability are always welcome. For further information contact Andy Kay on 07855 419499.

Updated: 11:13 Thursday, July 29, 2004