ILKLEY will be without a number of key players when they make their return to North East One at Pocklington on Saturday.

Skipper Stuart Vincent suffered a calf injury in the 36-34 Yorkshire Cup defeat at Wheatley Hills to join last season’s record try scorer Stuart Brewer and forward Steve Burns on the sidelines.

Burns is one of four second rows who are unavailable for the opening match. Pete Small, new recruit James Spencer and the experienced Ollie Renton are also missing.

It means that head of rugby Rhys Morgan will put his faith in the young pairing of John Pickersgill and James Colclough who made their debuts at Wheatley Hill. Mogan said: “I have never known us have so many second rows missing at one time, but Pickersgill and Colclough did well last weekend and I know they won’t let us down.”

Ryan Cooper, Ed Brown, JH Johnson, Ricky Palacio and Ed Brown are all still playing cricket so Ilkley’s resources are being stretched.

Morgan added “Being an amateur club we always have availability issues at this time of the season.

“We have key players missing and it will be a baptism of fire, but I am happy that the players we put on the field will do the job for us."