Wharfedale are targeting a win at third from bottom Bradford & Bingley in a derby clash at Wagon Lane on Saturday.

Greens' coach John Lawn said: "We should go there with confidence and should be hard-headed enough as a team to put away a side that's third from bottom in the table."

He added: "We've had a few weeks off and it's important that we get back on track."

Wharfedale will be looking for a more flowing game of rugby after their 18-10 win over their derby rivals earlier in the season was played at The Avenue in appallng weather conditions.

Lawn said: "They competed really well but it was basically a game for the forwards."

Back into National League Two this season, Lawn said that despite a big home win against second in the table Launceston, Bradford & Bingley have otherwise been unable to "establish a foothold in the league".

Wharfedale will be playing Saturday without Chris Malherbe, who is away at the Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong.

Andrew Hodgson will step in for Malherbe, making his first start for the first team since his eight-week suspension for referee abuse.

In addition to Hodgson coming in for Malherbe, the only other change for the Greens on Saturday will have Oliver Renton replacing David Lister in the second row. The game kicks off at 3pm.

WHARFEDALE: Dickinson, Hindle, Steele, Renton, Capstick, Allen, Verity, Baldwin, Doherty, A Baggett, Bedworth, Hodgson, Horsfall, Hutchinson, N Baggett. Replacements: Horner, Charnley, Lister, Moon.

IT might have been a barren weekend for followers of local rugby, but there were some significant results played across the county for both Wharfedale and Skipton.

Firstly the oft-postponed Bridlington v Sheffield Yorkshire Cup tie was finally played, the home side coming out 17-15 winners to set up a match with Wharfedale in the first round.

That is currently due to be played on Wednesday, April 7 at Threshfield (7.30pm kick-off), with a home tie against Leeds Tykes awaiting the winners. That has been pencilled in for April 10 under the floodlights at the Avenue - assuming of course that they come through the Bridlington match safely.

For Wednesday's game, Lawn said Wharfedale will be basically putting out an under-23s that will feature some lads from the Colts squad. A couple of "old" veterans (who are in their mid-20s), Alistair Allen and Oliver Renton, will add some experience to the young squad.

Meanwhile one of two clubs snapping at Skipton's heels in the race for promotion out of Yorkshire Three finally dropped out of the reckoning. Thornensians' 11-3 defeat at Roundhegians means they cannot now overtake Skipton.

With only two games left, only Moortown can now scupper Skipton's promotion chances - but four points behind and a significantly inferior scoring differential, it would take a spectacular collapse for Skipton to throw it away.

SKIPTON are at home to Northallerton (KO 3pm) in the penultimate league game.

Much of the tension of this vital game has been eased because the results of "catch-up" games elsewhere last week more or less settled this season's final league positions and Skipton are effectively promoted with two games in hand. On the other hand, visitors Northallerton are almost certainly relegated.

A win at Sandylands tomorrow will absolutely guarantee that the Reds will play in Yorkshire Division Two next season and the team will be wanting to impress the anticipated large crowd who have supported them in great numbers all season.

The entire squad has reported fit, which is a luxury at this stage in the season. Additionally, Sam Boatwright and George Smithson are now fully fit after their long recuperations from medical surgery last autumn.

SKIPTON: Naylor, Curtin, Burke, Kennedy, Munro, Howson, Oldfield, Crossman, Petterd, Riches, M Willsher, R Willsher, Sneddon, S Boatwright, M Boatwright. Replacements: Meki, Murphy, Smithson.

On Sunday, Skipton Colts play Scunthorpe in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Plate (kick-off 1pm).

Immediately afterwards, Skipton are fielding a "veterans" team. The opponents are Kirkby Lonsdale and kick-off is 2.30pm.

It has many years since the Reds could boast sufficient numbers to raise a "vets" team and credit goes to ex- first teamers Mike Beech and Pete Shearer for organising this game.

As a result of the recent defeat at Ripon, North Ribblesdale's promotion chances are now very slim, and they have their last Yorkshire Two home fixture this Saturday.

Knottingley provide the opposition for what should be a lively encounter with Ribb seeking revenge for an abrasive defeat back in December. The club will have a pre-match buffett available for all supporters from 2pm. Kick-off is at 3pm.

NORTH RIBBLESDALE: Chapman, Spensley, Topham, Cowperthwaite, Simpson, Bartlett' Walters, Newhouse, Ogden, Thwaite, Dugdale, Garth, J Howarth, Carr, Kirkbride. Replacements: Hopkins, Whaites, Stacey.x