It is commonly claimed among the Wharfedale faithful that the team plays its best against the better sides, while struggling against the strugglers.

They get a chance on Saturday to put that to the ultimate test when they travel to the home of Ealing Trailfinders, the champions elect who have a nine-point lead over the pack and a game in hand.

Despite coming a valiant second to last year’s champions Jersey, many at Wharfedale thought the Trailfinders the best team in the division.

At the Avenue in October they won 41-17, scoring five tries in the process.

Wharfedale go into the match with their confidence boosted by the win over Loughborough Students.

Coach Tom McGee said: “Our performance against the Students was definitely a step in the right direction, but Ealing will be a different proposition. However, I was pleased with the way the players set about their task, and I know that they will be up for Saturday’s challenge.”

The selectors, in anticipation of the important run-in to the end of the season, have rotated the key positions of hooker and scrum-half, giving starts to Ian Larkin and James Gough. Lloyd Davies has recovered from illness and resumes on the wing.

Wharfedale: Adam Whaites; Lloyd Davies, Luke Gray, James Tincknell, Joe Donkin; Tom Barrett, James Gough; Adam Howard, Ian Larkin, Mark Tampin, Richard Brown, Richard Rhodes, Alastair Allen, Dan Solomi, Aaron Myers. Replacements: Joe Altham, Steve Graham, Jim Mason, Philip Woodhead, Simon Horsfall.