York RI were putting the finish touches to their Yorkshire Two campaign with fixtures against Wetherby at first and second team level.

Apart from an influx of former Rowntrees players who still want to play league rugby, RI's recruitment has been kept to a minimum this summer.

However, tomorrow they are taking the opportunity to look at two 18-year-olds who have come through their own ranks - scrum half Brendan Ahearne and speedy back Sam Naylor, son of RI stalwart Jim Naylor.

New skipper Mark Floyd misses Pocklington's club game against Roundhegians at Percy Road (3pm) because he is at a family wedding.

The side will be led by vice-captain and scrum half Andy Kirby and Pock have a ready made replacement for Floyd in newcomer George Mangalo, who played Premier rugby in Scotland last season with Kirkcaldy.

While Yorkshire League clubs don't begin the battle for points until next Saturday, September 8, the country's big guns kick off this weekend with the Zurich Premiership and National Leagues in action.

Among them will be new-look Harrogate who travel to Newbury in National League division two.

Harrogate coach Ralph Zoing has recruited no less than nine new men this summer.

Centre Scott Manson, 24, who has signed from keen rivals Otley, was previously with Clifton and West Hartlepool and could find a place in tomorrow's starting line-up after impressing in warm-up games against Bradford and Bingley and Yorkshire Cup holders Sandal.

Competition for back row places is hotting up with John Heggie, 21, from Leeds Tykes' Academy and Dave Slater, 22, previously with Huddersfield, joining Oliver Cook, ex-Hull Ionians and Yorkshire Under 20s, and Howard Dawson, 25, from Caerphilly, as new arrivals at Claro Road.

The new signings are completed by winger Jeremy Marr, 28, from Leeds Tykes; Lundy Shackleton, 19-year-old scrum-half son of former England stand-off Roger Shackleton; lock Ryan Slater, 23, from Worcester; and loose-head prop Steve Stamper, 25, ex-Carlisle and Cumbria.

New Zealander Marr, who has had a rugby league trial with Halifax Blue Sox, is a replacement for James Tapster, who has signed for Wakefield.

Harrogate's rugby chairman David Oswin believes Marr is a stronger all-round player than England Sevens' winger Tapster.

Oswin said: "Jeremy has a proven try-scoring record and will strengthen the back line."

Marr, who has also played full-back and stand-off, had three years at Wagon Lane before spending last season at Headingley. "I have not joined Harrogate without doing my homework," he said.

"From what I have seen and heard this is a club with huge potential and one which is ready for promotion to National League Division One.

"Having played against all the first division clubs last season, apart from Leeds and Worcester the standard is not a great deal higher than division two, so if we go up there should not be any real problems."

York have a club game away to West Leeds, who will also stage games against York A XV and Extra AXV at their west Yorkshire base.

York 1st XV (meet 12.30pm, ko 3.30pm) from Copeland, Liddle, Davies, S Arkle, Brown, N Ventress, J Arkle, Martin, Allen, Harding, Dempsey, Wyatt, Clutton, Hawcutt, Denham, Spanton, Smart. Contact Alf Robertshaw tel 626659.

York A XV (meet 12.30pm, ko 2pm) from Westward, Green, Bass, R Allerton, Farbrother, C Ventress, Dovey, Smith, Shaw, Thomas, McDonald, West, Reed, D Glasgow, A Thomson, Church, Heppleston. Contact Andy Smith 624068.

York Extra AV (meet 12.30pm, ko 3pm) from Boothroyd, Muldoon, Briggs, S Thompson, Hart, Hale, Thomson, Stewart, Hassett, Horton, I McGavin, Dunwell, Linton, Potter, Belt, Latham. Contact Martin Briggs 466702.

Updated: 12:23 Friday, August 31, 2001