WHARFEDALE have re-elected Andrew Hodgson as captain for the 2003/4 season.

The decision to give the 27-year-old the reins for the third time went through 'on the nod' at a players' meeting on Tuesday.

Hodgson was an absentee at the gathering after having an operation on his knee the previous day.

"I had some work done on the ligament and the cartilage and everything seems to have gone OK," said Hodgson. "I've been carrying the problem since Christmas, but now the job is done I should be able to get back to full training in four to six weeks.

"So far as the captaincy is concerned, last season provided us with some tough games in the closing weeks, but I was fortunate to have some experienced players around me to help. The likes of Hedley Verity, Paul Evans and David Pears were very supportive and all the lads pulled together to get us through.

"I was happy to throw my cap into the ring for the job and I'm looking forward to doing it again."

One downside of the surgery was that it cost Hodgson another tour with the England Counties team to visit Rumania and France in the next few weeks.

He would have been an automatic choice on the strength of his work in Chile last season when the team made its inaugural trip, but because the knee needed attention, he did not put himself forward for a Yorkshire place and as a result was not considered for the trip.