The NPI Insurance Cup and the Tetley's Bitter Vase competitions get under way this week but for four clubs it is too soon.

York's selectors have been working overtime this week to fill the gaps in last week's team as eight players are attending two weddings this weekend and are unavailable for the club's NPI Insurance Cup derby at Pocklington.

Also missing, because of cricket commitments, is former club captain and scrum-half Nigel Durham, who is captaining York's cricket club against the Yorkshire League leaders Sheffield United tomorrow.

Malton and Norton have been granted a walk-over to the second round of the Tetley's Bitter Vase second round as Marist have been forced to withdraw from the competition.

And Nestle Rowntre, originally down to entertain Wetherby, have been forced out of the same tournament because several of their players who are farmers are unavailable at this stage of the season.

York's scouts will have been particularly interested in the performance put up by Pocklington in Yorkshire League One against Cleckheaton last Saturday, which was described by one observer as a fascinating battle that could easily have gone either way, the West Yorkshire side shading it 11-8.

Pocklington have their fingers crossed that former York fly-half, Kevin Bowling will have recovered from a leg injury sustained last week, and their three-quarter line will be strengthened by the inclusion at centre of Julian Barkworth, who has returned after a knee injury.

James Ward makes a welcome return to Pock's colours at prop as Simon Welford has returned to Nairobi where he manages Rothman's East African operation.

Former York RI lock forward, Dave Loughlin, is moving house this week and would have missed Wetherby's match against Nestle Rowntree.

However, Wetherby have been awarded a walk-over as Nestle Rowntree were unable to fulfill the fixture, and that has allowed a few selection experiments to be made.

As a result, flanker Richard Jones, who is captain of Wetherby this season, will play alongside Jaffa Hans at Goole 'A' and Alex Fraser deputises for Simon Martin in the fly-half position.

Malton and Norton have not filled their fixture vacancy following Marist's withdrawal from the Tetley's Bitter Vase.