A lot of water has flowed under Kildwick Bridge since Keighley and Skipton last faced each other at first-team level. The fortunes of the two clubs have also ebbed and flowed during the period since December 1, 1979, when the two old rivals met at Sandylands, (writes Tony Simpson).

Keighley were predictable winners, a 22-0 success merely reflecting the comparative strengths of the two clubs at the time. A Good Friday fixture was scheduled for the following season, but that was subsequently cancelled and, at Skipton's behest, the fixture was put on hold until a more even balance of playing strength was in place

Those historic links, of course, will not be part of any baggage carried by either team when they meet this weekend. None of the players involved had donned their first set of boots when the teams last met and the motivation will stem purely from the need to collect a couple of league points against local rivals.

It is a mark of the shifting fortunes of the two clubs in recent times that Skipton arguably go into the game as favourites. The days when the men from Utley - then playing under the shadow of the gasometers at Marley - had the likes of Wakefield, Bradford, Roundhay, Harrogate, Halifax and Sheffield on their fixture list on a regular basis are gone, replaced in quick order by an unforgiving league system which makes promotion and relegation on merit a painfully instant process.

Happily for rejuvenated Skipton and the people who have stuck by the club in its long spell in the doldrums, the league format offers quick elevation. Promoted twice in successive seasons, Skipton now have Keighley back on their fixture list once again. It may not be the benchmark it once was, but it reaffirms the progress being made at Sandylands and the crowd at Utley tomorrow will doubtless reflect that.

This will, of course, be the first meeting between the clubs in league rugby, so that beyond the romance of old friends coming together again, there is the pragmatic need to acquire the two points on offer.

North Ribblesdale's improved form will face a tough examination when they travel to Hipperholme tomorrow to face Old Brodleians, who are currently third in Yorkshire One.

Unfortunately the Grove Park men are obliged to make a couple of changes to the line-up which accounted for Selby last weekend, with full-back Gareth Evans ruled out with a calf strain and fly-half John Walker unavailable.

Skipton (at Keighley, 3.00): A Maldera, P Lacy, I Sneddon, A Oldfield, A Hill; D Howson, D Brown; P Crossman, N King, P Jenkinson, A Winthrop, G Newhouse, M Davison, R King, J Morgan. Reps: R Birks, A Porter, A Phillip.

Keighley: W Knowles; J Hinchliffe, D Towler, C Dooling, K Young; J Harrison I Woodwiss; R Riley, D Pullen, M Cummins, A Bennett, D Walsh, M Lister, M Bailey, L Gordon Reps: T Midgley, J Fitch, I Morgan,

North Ribblesdale (at Old Brodleians): S Kennedy; S Devoy, S Evans, P Ridgeway, I Cowperthwaite; J Hughes, N Gemmell; J Thwaite, M Throup, S Heal, D Stacey, L Brown, M Carr, M Mortimer, R Howarth.