Leeds Tykes might have won promotion back to the Guinness Premiership but that notable achievement was a rare beacon in what was mostly a season of woe for the Bradford-Leeds area.

Bradford Salem did reach the EDF Energy Senior Vase final at Twickenham and Baildon the semi-final of the EDF Energy Junior Vase but, on the debit side, Otley, Bradford & Bingley, Harrogate and Cleckheaton were all relegated from their respective national divisions.

Leeds, and their director of coaching Stuart Lancaster, have promised to put their faith in the players that got them to the top of National League One.

Otley's tenure in that division came to an end, however. Cross Green may delight visitors with the scenic views of the Chevin and also because they are seen as a proper rugby club'.

But it has basically been a case of swimming against the tide for the part-timers against clubs with full-time players and bigger budgets.

Whether Otley can bounce straight back from National League Two will depend to a large degree on whether they can keep their better younger backs like Kyle Dench and Danny Smith to complement their competent forwards.

Bradford & Bingley went into their first season in National League Two determined not to break the bank.

But that limited budget and a worse than average season for injuries - they never had a settled centre partnership for example - meant that the writing was on the wall halfway through the season.

After Christmas the only league victories they achieved were against Harrogate and Barking, who were also relegated, and the season finished with the Bees' announcing that head coach Geoff Wappett had taken over the director of rugby role at ambitious Hull.

The task of reviving the club in National League Three North will now be in the hands of coaches Neil Spence and Carlos Hassan, and skipper Barry Clark, and again much will depend on them keeping key players like Ben Greaves, Rob Wilson and having a fully fit Stuart Dixon operating in midfield.

Wharfedale, who might have been in with a shout of promotion if their early-season form had matched that which followed, have also changed coaches, with John Lawn being succeeded by Peter Hartley.

Cleckheaton, who like Otley, found that effort alone was not enough alone, said goodbye to their coach Dave Harrison as they dropped into the Northern divisions.

Elsewhere, Keighley need to find a more settled side to stand a chance of getting out of Yorkshire One, and Bradford Salem must prove that they really want promotion to North Two East.

Baildon need to show form before Christmas in Yorkshire Three, while Wibsey, also seeking a new coach, should also up their pre-season work in Yorkshire Five.