HAVING tested themselves against SSE National League One's top four – Ealing Trailfinders, Coventry, Blackheath and Rosslyn Park – and generally done well, more was expected of Wharfedale when they travelled to Loughborough Students last Saturday.

The university boys were, after all, only one place and two points behind 11th-placed Wharfedale.

The Dalesmen made a terrible start, going ten points down in as many minutes but appeared to have turned things around by half-time, when they led 15-10.

However, they ended up on the wrong end of a 29-15 defeat, with coach Jon Feeley saying: "The mental preparation of the players was wrong.

"They turned up expecting to win, rather than making things happen to win, and you cannot do that at this level.

"I would hope that this is a lesson that they only have to learn once."

There can be a little sympathy for the Greens in the students' first try, with Feeley saying: "The ball went out of play and everyone stopped, but the decision wasn't given and Loughborough played on", but he added that the 7am withdrawal on Saturday of second row Adam Howard, whose wife had gone into labour, was not a factor in the defeat "great player though Adam is".

The turning point, according to Feeley, was Wharfedale's failure to turn an attacking five-metre scrum into points early in the second half.

The Greens, who have now surrendered that 11th place to the students, face a similar challenge on Saturday, hosting Old Albanians (2.30pm), who are 13th, four points behind the home team.

The Wharfedale selectors make just one change, with Howard once again being available. Alex Powell makes way for Jim Mason at No 8, while in the backs Lloyd Davies and Taylor Prell switch roles. Hooker Ian Larkin starts in rotation with Dan Stockdale, who did well to last for 45 minutes in two stints last weekend after shoulder trouble.

Wharfedale: T Prell; L Davies, C Hudson, T Davidson, O Cicognini; J Guy, J Doherty (c); M Beesley, I Larkin, J Armstrong, A Howard, S Willet, J Barnard, J Mason, D Solomi, J Mason. Replacements: M Freeman, J Altham, A Powell, J Prell.