Skipton launch their Yorkshire Division Two league programme at Sandylands tomorrow when they entertain Beverley, one of the two relegated sides the Reds will face in their opening two matches.

Skipton go into action with a handful of new faces in their line-up.

Most interesting of them is the appearance of former North Ribblesdale utility back Sean Kennedy at centre.

He has played a number of games for the Grove Park men in Yorkshire One and is sure to provide strength in depth to the back division.

Also making his league debut will be scrum-half Hamish Burns, a Kiwi previously based in London who was recommended by Cameron Marcroft.

He will be joined shortly by countryman John Settle. The 24-year-old lock or flanker has been recommended by Duncan Brown having played with the popular scrum-half in Hamilton.

Settle and his wife are due to arrive in England on September 23.

Another newcomer from a local club is Mick Richards. He has played previously at Wharfedale, but has decided to throw in his lot with Skipton this season and gets an early chance at full-back.

The only new face in the Skipton pack tomorrow is that of tight-head prop Geoff Reid-Hughes. He arrived at Sandylands last season in the role of a spectator as 'a friend of a friend', but he has been working hard during the summer to get into shape and gets his first chance of league rugby tomorrow. A former Harlequins Under 21 player, he is a student at Leeds University.

A new face on the bench is that of Matthew Boatwright, who joined Skipton last season, but was too late to be eligible for league rugby.

Familiar faces not on show tomorrow include Neil King, who has knee trouble, Andrew Porter, who has a damaged back, and Declan Hayes, who is still trying to shake off a neck problem.

Record try scorer Paul Lacy has recently joined the police and has yet to sort out his shift patterns before he can start playing again, while prop Bob Birks has not been in full training and has a run out with the second team tomorrow.

Skipton: M Richards; M Beech, S Kennedy, D Howson, I Sneddon; A Oldfield, H Burns; P Jenkinson, R King, G Reid-Hughes, A Winthrop, G Newhouse, I Scrivin, M Davison, J Morgan.

Replacements: P Crossman, M Boatwright, M Wilson.