THE new season heralds a further expansion with the acceptance of three new clubs, bringing the club membership figure to a record 48, the league now being sponsored by York-based estate agents Hunters.

The new trio are Hull Zingari, Hornsea, along with Malton and Old Malton.

With four second elevens also being admitted, the Fifth Division will operate with 17 clubs with each playing the other 16 teams once and four teams twice. This is a one-season arrangement as three more sides are to be admitted in 2002 which will allow the bottom division to split into two divisions each of ten teams.

The season opens on Sunday when the president's challenge game which was postponed from the end of last season due to the petrol shortage will be hosted by champions Easingwold, the game scheduled to start at 1.30pm.

Easingwold will be without skipper Martin Robinson who is likely to miss much of the season after suffering a fractured leg in a skiing accident a few weeks ago while Dunnington, the league cup winners, will be including new singings Collis King, John McHale and Hamid Khan in a strong line up.

Dunnington will resume their Premier Division status after their enforced season in the First Division with a home game against Pickering when the league programme gets under way on April 28 and will be keen to make an early impression. Their attack will again be spearheaded by Joe Grant who will be keen to recapture the devastating form which saw him grab 71 wickets last season despite missing a number of early games and his side's attack will be strengthened by the return to the York League of John McHale who has joined the Common Road side from Central Yorkshire League side Methley.

McHale will also strengthen the batting as he hit 951 runs when he last played in the First Division with Selby in 1995. Dunnington have also signed Collis King from Stillington where he will join fellow former West Indian Test star Alvin Kallicharran and Hamid Khan from Leeds Police and they are certain to mount a strong challenge for the title.

Easingwold's hopes of retaining the title have been severely hit by Robinson's injury and the side will be looking for overseas recruit Damon Smith to score a hatful of runs from his top four berth as well as utilising his off-breaks effectively.

Smith is one of 15 Australians who will be displaying their talents as 24 clubs have turned to overseas players to strengthen their squad in the absence of available local players of quality.

Chris Simpson is one of the few local players to move clubs in a return to his original club Acomb after a long and successful stint in the Bradford League with Pudsey Congs.

Paul Hemingway has also joined the club from Heworth and with Sri Lankan Duminda Perera returning for a second season Acomb under the leadership of new skipper Dave Sykes should be among the leading clubs.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge's young side should again give a good account of themselves and Steve Crowder's side will include Aussie Kieran Rodgers who has replaced Shak Nawaz in the Moor Farm side's attack.

Clifton Alliance will be hoping that Australian Darren Reeves will maintain the high standard of their previous antipodean recruits and if the West Torrans based batsman produces the goods, Clifton should again be among the frontrunners.

Heworth's Graham Hayward is one of two South Africans who will be on show and the Elm Park Way side will be hoping that the all-rounder's experience gained in his three First-class appearances with Eastern Province will benefit Dave Simpson's side.

Thirsk's Barry Perry has undergone a knee operation during the winter and may welkl miss the first two or three games. In addition, Andrew Hawke will be an absentee but Melbourne-based Lincoln McCrae is returning to the Racecouse side who may have to be satisfied with mid-table rating this year.

Woodhouse Grange have signed Simon Lazenby from Helington and will welcome Sajid Ali from Lahore to a side which should be capable of achieving a mid-table position.

Osbaldwick have signed Aussie all-rounder Stuart Doyle and skipper Steve Young will be hoping that his side improve their tenth place. Whitkirk are one of the few top sides to rely on home grown players and may find this a handicap while newly-promoted Ripon will be hoping that evergreen Paul Mason and Aussie Ryan Tempany can help them retain premier status.

Indian Ankur Sondhi is returning to Driffield who have recruited Simon Lazenby from Bubwith and may well bounce back to the Premier Division at the first attempt.

Pocklington, with Australian Nathan Job, and York who will have Aussie Kent Stone in their line-up appear to be the likely challengers. Stillington's promotion last season owed much to the contributions from Collis King and Swayne Field who will both be missing from their line up. The latter's overseas berth is to be filled by Pakistani Mohammed Hafeez who will need to turn in match-winning performances on a regular basis if his side are to make their mark in the higher division.

Newcomers Hull Zingari will open their programme with a visit to Bridlington and will be looking to get a flyer in their bid to gain promotion at the first attempt. Zingari are another team to recruit from Australia with Damon Rowan joining the Chanterlands side. The division seems to have strength in depth with Bridlington, Castleford, Scarborough, Harrogate and Goole Town all catching the eye. In contrast Rowntrees, Civil Service and Clifton Alliance II may find themselves struggling in the lower reaches.

The two new teams in Division Three, Hornsea and Malton and Old Malton, should be capable of clinching the two promotion places. Both have made overseas signings and should be too strong for the other teams in the division although Londesbrough Park and Hovingham may think otherwise.