LIKELY contenders for this season’s division one honours are Sessay, Fenner and Hull Zingari.

Sessay were unlikely relegation sufferers last year when they were hit badly by the weather.

They should be more than capable of bouncing back into the premier division at the first attempt.

Fenner finished in mid-table last year but the recruitment of Steve Sergeant and Will Rhodes together with Grant Van Es from Hull Ionians should make them strong promotion candidates.

Prolific run scorer Oliver Stephenson has taken over as skipper at Folkton & Flixton and will be looking to lift his side, though they may find their route to the pinnacle blocked by Hull Zingari, who have obtained the services of Beverley’s Andy Hamson.

The promoted duo of Beverley II and Whitkirk will be looking to consolidate their new first division rating but may find themselves in competition with Harrogate and Bridlington in the lower reaches.

Jamie Hopper’s presence at Driffield should enable them to avoid relegation fears, while the Pickering veterans – led by Dave Greenlay – should still have enough gas in their tank to figure in mid-table.

The same could apply to relegated Goole and Heworth, whose Richard Bowling has moved to Hovingham with Dringhouses’ Sam Lingard recruited as a replacement.

Teams with good prospects in the lower divisions include Tadcaster Magnet and Londesborough Park in division two; Duncombe Park, Ripon and Pocklington in division three and Patrington in division four. Newcomers Copmanthorpe, from the York Vale League, and Brandesburton, from the YSL Eastern Conference, will both fancy their chances of instant success in division six.

Both new clubs start their campaign with away fixtures with Copmanthorpe travelling the short distance to Dunnington and the East Yorkshire outfit facing a testing game at Woodhouse Grange III.