YORK Wasps coach Lee Crooks will have an instant yardstick as to how far his side have progressed in 12 months on the opening day of the Northern Ford Premiership season.

Wasps will open the 2000-1 campaign with a home meeting against Doncaster Dragons - the side they faced on the opening day of last season.

Last term Wasps travelled to Doncaster on Boxing Day and were handed a 36-1 thumping by the Dragons, coached by former York star St John Ellis.

Ellis was to enjoy a good season with his side in the top five for most of the season and if Wasps are to impress this term a good showing against Doncaster at Huntington Stadium on Sunday, December 3, is imperative.

And it is far from an easy start for Crooks new charges as they follow up their test against the Dragons with a 'derby' showdown against Hull KR on Humberside the following week.

Boxing Day promises to be a crowd-puller at Huntington Stadium as Crooks and his side will lock horns with his former Castleford club-mate David Plange and his Hunslet Hawks side, who will be determined to impress this term after a poor showing last season on the back of their Grand Final success of the previous term.

New Year's Day brings an away trip to face Batley Bulldogs.

Reformed Gateshead Thunder will make their debut in the Northern Ford Premiership with a match against Hull KR.

Thunder, who have risen from the ashes of the old Super League club that played at the Gateshead International Stadium in 1999, have been given a home game to kick off their campaign.

Because Gateshead's admission takes the number of teams in the competition to 19, each club will have a bye and Leigh, beaten Grand Finalists last season, will sit out the opening round.

Reigning champions Dewsbury Rams start with a home game against Featherstone Rovers.