The mid-season Christmas break cannot come soon enough for Wharfedale, with no fewer than eight of their first team squad members on the injured list.

One piece of welcome news is that for the trip to league leaders Esher on Saturday, they have been able to select vice-captain Chris Malherbe, albeit on the bench, missing for two months with an injured hand.

In last season’s futile attempt on the part of the RFU to create a fully-professional 12-club Championship, Esher were relegated from Level Two despite finishing 12th out of 16.

Now they lead National One by five clear points from London Scottish, and have an unblemished home record.

Their only defeat, by a solitary point, came at Sedgley Park in October.

Wharfedale have selected: Luke Gray; Simon Horsfall, James Tincknell, Andy Hodgson, Ian Dixon; Mark Bedworth, Sam Cottrell; Neil Dickinson, Gavin Hindle, Mark Chivers, Richard Brown, Oliver Renton, Alastair Allen, Dan Solomi, Rob Baldwin (c). Replacements: Adam Mason, Joe Altham, James Mason, Chris Malherbe, David Hall.

For travelling fans, from the M1 take the M25 west, leaving it at Junction 10; take the A3 towards London, then after 1 mile turn left on the A245 into Walton-on-Thames.

After 1/4 mile turn right at the traffic lights into Seven Hills Road (B365).

Turn right at the magic roundabout into Burwood Road and follow this into Hersham Village, bearing right into Molesey Road.

Go straight over the large roundabout under the railway bridge at Hersham Station and the ground is 300 yards on the left. (Approx time from the M25 is 15 minutes).

On Boxing Day, December 26, the Foresters entertain North Ribblesdale.

p Skipton welcome a much improved Selby side to Sandylands on Saturday.

After losing their first nine league games Selby have now picked up six points from their last five games to lie just two points below Skipton in the table.

Andy Pickles, making his home debut at fly-half, will lead the Reds’ back division, which is also strengthened with the return from injury of captain Jonathan Richards.

p North Ribblesdale travel to Hullensians on Saturday with the second team entertaining Wharfedale Thirds.