WHARFEDALE have decided to fight fire with fire by naming captain Andy Hodgson at fly-half for tomorrow's visit to Stourbridge, (writes Tony Simpson).

The Dalesmen can have no doubts about the seriousness of their position in National Division Two, but their refusal to be intimidated by the situation is reflected in their decision to bring their most potent attacking weapon into the thick of the action and gamble on his ability to handle the role having never played there in senior league rugby.

His dynamism in broken field running is unquestioned, but his ability to handle the mental agility needed at No 10 is unknown.

Deciding when and where - and, more importantly, whether - to join an attacking move is not a split-second issue for a full-back or roaming wingman.

At fly-half, peripheral awareness is everything and even for a player of obvious athletic skill, running a game under pressure, with no 'opt out' clause, is another matter altogether.

The return of David Whitfield on the replacement bench gives the coaching staff a full range of options, however, and it will be interesting to see whether the experiment lasts for a full game. Hodgson's switch from wing allows Gareth Johnston to return on the flank after a short holiday in Ireland, while Matt Birch continues at scrum-half after the recurrence of Sam Cotterill's hamstring problems.

Up front the changes are more predictable. Philip Peel resumes after a bout of concussion at prop, with Craig Ingram starting on the bench, while Simon Hargreaves comes in at flanker, allowing brother Phil to take over the No 8 role vacated by Tony Jackson, who has gone to live in Spain for a spell.

Defeat by Harrogate leaves the Dalesmen in the bottom three. A win at Stourbridge would be very welcome.

Wharfedale: J Davies; C Eccleston, A Baggett, C Malherbe, G Johnston; A Hodgson, M Birch; P Peel, J Ogden, N Dickinson, D Lister, A Capstick, P Evans, S Hargreaves, P Hargreaves. Replacements: C Ingram, G Hindle, R Maunder, D Whitfield.

oNORTH Ribblesdale find themselves in a reversal of the role they filled on Saturday when they entertain bottom of the table Sheffield Tigers at Grove Park tomorrow.

The Settle side gave their Yorkshire One survival hopes a major boost on Saturday when they overcame leaders Bridlington in a red-blooded affair, but the onus is on them to consolidate that excellent result by putting the bottom club to the sword.

Tigers may be in some trouble with league officials after failing to turn-up at Old Brodleians last Saturday and they also have a two-point penalty in the pipeline after fielding an ineligible player.

On current form, North Ribblesdale should have the necessary to collect another two points, but they cannot afford the euphoria of Saturday's win to undermine their effort, especially since they have a number of changes behind the scrum.

Full-back Gareth Evans and centre Marc Driver are both ruled out with injury, while Simon Spensley is on the piste. John Hughes takes over from Evans, Stuart Evans comes in at centre and Alan Askew takes the vacant wing berth.

Skipton face an interesting test in Yorkshire Two when they visit West Park Bramhope. The North Leeds side have been clinging to second place behind Keighley with 11 wins from 13 matches and represent a tough assignment for the Sandylands men, but the Reds have the ability to raise their game to confront such a challenge.

oTWO Craven youngsters have been selected to represent Yorkshire schools at rugby union.

Anthony Connor of Salterforth and Steven Moon of Malham have been picked for the Yorkshire Schools U15 squad following various district, semi final and final trials.

Both boys play rugby at Wharfedale, Ermysted's pupil Connor playing in the back row and Moon, who attends South Craven, at fly-half.

The squad programme starts with three training sessions at Woodhouse Grove Grammar School in January and February before games against Cardiff and three county fixtures against Northumberland, Durham and Lancashire.