A NEW-LOOK York RUFC are welcomed back to Yorkshire One action with an intriguing fixture against Goole at Clifton Park tomorrow.

A raft of summer signings means York approach the new season full of optimism and with promotion to North 2 East the main priority.

The spine of last year's side, which narrowly failed to scale the heights of Durham and Northumberland One, is still in place, with club chiefs saying they have lost no players.

Tomorrow's line-up sees a couple of key players making their debuts. Top of the list is Kiwi tight-head prop Cory Wallace, who has joined from Wellington District side Hutt Old Boys Marist.

Wallace has played senior rugby in a league only marginally below New Zealand NPC level and is expected to play a big role in strengthening a forward pack which came under severe pressure against the top Durham and Northumberland teams last year.

Carl Paterson, son of former York Wasps coach John, will start at fly-half in a move expected to give York a more dynamic edge in the backs - filling the club's desire to recruit a natural number 10.

A more natural goalkicker than full-back Tom Copeland, ex-Selby star Paterson, a leading scorer with Hull, will take over kicking duties.

Explosive winger Rob Kama remains a pivotal figure in the backs and he is joined this season by Fijian flier Billy Cakaunitabua, who is back at York after a spell in the Army.

It's a wing line up which could spell huge problems for York's opposition as the Clifton Parkers look to utilise Kama's speed (10.3 seconds for the 100 metres) with Cakaunitabua's strength and guile.

Rob Sparrow will line up alongside Brad Macdonald as the locks following a successful return from an ankle injury which wrecked much of his campaign.

Updated: 10:35 Friday, September 02, 2005