YORK must beat fellow relegation candidates Alnwick in the last league match of the season at Clifton Park tomorow if they are to avoid relegation to North East Division One next season.

York must also win their two remaining away games at Vale of Lune and Percy Park, while Alnwick, Percy Park and Lymm must lose all their remaining games.

On paper it seems highly unlikely that they will avoid the drop and the club is continuing to lose players through injury.Four more first team squad players were added to the list following the hard-fought friendly victory against Northallerton last Saturday.

As a result a squad of 20 has been named with a notable absentee in hooker Hugh Kane who is away on business in Poland. He is replaced by club stalwart Gez Baldwin.

Bev Bevan's availability is uncertain due to Army commitments, but if he is able to play then his presence could be crucial in the absence of suspended skipper Dave Dorking.

Charlie Kama who had an outstanding game against Northallerton makes a welcome return to league rugby having recovered from broken ribs. Also named in the squad is second row Army player Andy Wyatt who has been on standby for duty in Kosovo. Jewson's National League One championship contenders Henley could give Harrogate a hard time when they visit Claro Road tomorrow, writes Peter Vine.

Harrogate are one of only three teams to have beaten Henley this season so they will be going all out to avenge that 20-5 defeat in front of their own supporters in their first league game.

Harrogate's main team change sees the Durham University skipper and Yorkshire U21 full back, Lee Cholewa, make his Claro Road debut in the No. 15 jersey, Cholewa taking the place of Tim Barley.

All eyes will be on Harrogate's new goalkicker, Peter Taylor, who set Harrogate on the road to survival with a long range penalty kick deep into injury time that stunned Morley 22-21 two weeks ago.

Taylor has been taught all he knows about goal-kicking by the club's record points scorer, Ralph Zoing, who has been side-lined for most of the season with back trouble.

Goole travel to Beverley in Thwaites' North East Division One while Pocklington, mid-table in Division Two, entertain the unbeaten league leaders, Darlington.

Jon Trail has returned from Australia, where he was attending a wedding, to regain his place on the wing while Chris Watkins takes the scrum half place of John Newsome, who joined Pocklington from Malton and Norton before the March 1 transfer deadline.

Selby, knocked out of the Yorkshire Cup by Doncaster last week, now concentrate on the North-East Division Three title battle against their mid-table visitors, Yarnbury.

Dave Batty, who was working last Saturday, returns at full back, Simon Hall switching to the wing where he takes the place of Charlie Bennett, who starts his suspension following his dismissal against Doncaster.

Former Yorkshire hooker Steve Cruise gives way to James Lamprey who makes his fourth appearance since joining Selby from Wakefield.

After disappointingly being knocked out of the Tetley's Bitter Vase semi-final at Billericay and Moortown in the Yorkshire Shield in the last fortnight, Scarborough concentrate all their efforts on winning the league.

They entertain Hullensians tomorrow, needing just a point to clinch the Yorkshire Two title.Peter Woolley and Andy Holloway are on the wings and Carl Holdsworth deputises for Rob Bell at centre as the former Harrogate player has a knee injury.

Up front, Jamie Drayton is at prop so Tom Fish drops back to the second row because Wayne Adams is out.Bar Matty Bentley, York RI's player/coach Andy Morse has a full squad to select from for the trip to Skipton. Bentley has hamstring trouble and is also attending a wedding.

Morse is hoping that Wetherby and Stocksbridge might do top club RI a favour by beating Baildon at Jenny Lane and Bolsterstone tomorrow.

Nestl Rowntree have arranged with their opponents Burley for their Yorkshire four game to kick off at 2.30 as they plan a 50th birthday celebration for their ever-present lock, Dave Matthewman.They welcome back seven players who were missing from the 14-man side that drew 31-31 with Pocklington Pilgrims last week.

York RI have been drawn to meet Ripon Hornblowers at Mallorie park in the semi-final of the North Yorkshire Trophy.

RI booked their place in the last four with a 24-12 victory at Selby 'A'.

The other semi-final is between Redcar Mariners and Middlesbrough Extra 'A'.

The semi-finals must be played on or before Sunday, April 11.Four replacements will be allowed in the final, one of which must be a front row forward.

The final will be held at Harrogate's Claro Road ground on Sunday, May 2 (3pm KO)Quarter-final results: Knaresborough 17, Middlesborough Ex 'A' 30, Ripon Hornblowers 18, Selby 'A' 12; York RI 24, Skipton 6; Wharfedale 4ths 12, Redcar Mariners 13

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.