ON a day when going in at the deep end is the norm, North Ribblesdale have followed suit by asking veteran John Walker to make his season debut in a tough re-arranged Yorkshire One league game at Huddersfield YMCA.

Walker has given yoeman service to the club down the years and will doubtless rise to the challenge in fine style, but the fact that the Grove Park men have been forced to ask him to come out of retirement for such a challenging assignment underlines a worrying position at the Settle club.

Ribblesdale are in a fix because of injuries to key players. Skipper and chief cutting edge Gareth Evans is ruled out with injury, as is his brother Stuart, while Bryan McGeoch, who has been handling the fly-half and goal-kicking roles very effectively of late, is also a casualty and unavailable tomorrow.

On a happier note - though to underline how unkind Lady Luck has been to the side of late - prop John Thwaits is expected back tomorrow after being ruled out last weekend with a pre-match warm-up injury.

Walker's inclusion allows Marc Driver to revert to his more accustomed centre berth.

Skipton also have a league re-arrangement tomorrow when they visit second-placed West Park Bramhope. The Reds keep the same line-up which was on duty at West Leeds last weekend as they bid to complete a double of the North Leeds club.