Looking forward to rekindling old relationships and forging some new in what promises to be just as intense a season as the last couple. Predictions for finishing positions:
1 Ripon - despite losing Player Coach to pastures new and first choice 10 to career ending injury, this still young squad has the appetite, attitude and ability to go further.
2 Yarnbury - they will keep the try BP machine ticking over in their home games and do enough on the road to be in contention.
3 Roundhegians - sleeping giants to wake up and gain some consistent form.
4 Baildon - been close contenders for a couple of years and cash or not, will have the appetite to keep up the table.
5 Bradford & Bingley - may be sticking my neck out with this unknown quantity but think they will need a season of stability to stop the rot and consolidate before bidding for glory again.
6 Huddersfield Laund Hill - here significant departure(s) may have a negative effect. May have to settle for mid-table mediocrity despite being a "proper Rugby Club" and a good place to visit.
7 Halifax Vandals - Yorkshire 3 form a different kettle of fish from Y2 and need to be able to step up quickly, so a year for consolidation.
8 Northallerton - as above, they have seen pendulum success and less so over past few seasons and may need a good solid season to get used to the higher standard again.
9 Dinnington - some quality individual players don't make a great team and so can't see them ending up much different from last season.
10 Bramley Phoenix - home power will just about keep them out of trouble but not sure how long they can keep up the "just made it" performance?
11 Hemsworth - Yorkshire 2 showed as a step to far and it can't have been fun being on the receiving end of so many one sided games.
12 Ossett - similar to Hems, don't think they have what it takes personnel wise to build a sustainable threat in this division.
Other views and challenges welcome.
