WHARFEDALE skipper James Doherty was not considered for selection last week after suffering recurring headaches.

It is a worrying trend, bearing in mind that the 28-year-old was badly concussed in the Yorkshire Cup final against Harrogate at West Park Leeds in late April.

Blackpool-born Doherty was hit late in the 12th minute by Sam Brady, and then dropped on his head, the Harrogate lock surprisingly only being given a yellow card rather than a straight red.

After lengthy treatment, the Greens’ skipper was led from the pitch looking very groggy, took no further part in the match and later went to hospital to check on a neck injury.

Doherty had headaches for a week and a half afterwards until the morning of the club's annual dinner.

Tom McGee, who was at the final and has since replaced Jon Feeley as Wharfedale's coach, said: "James has been suffering from headaches again, which we haven't always been aware of, and has only been playing at 50 per cent.

"There is no way that we are going to risk him under these circumstances but it puts into question not only his future in rugby but his future in a wider sense.

"Rugby is a physical sport – we know that – but I would hope that there wasn't a deliberate attempt to take him out of that match. I would certainly never tell one of my players to do something like that."

Wharfedale lost centre Huw Morgan to injury during their disappointing 29-12 National League One defeat at home to Ampthill last Saturday but McGee added: "He will be fine for our next match at Rosslyn Park a week on Saturday (there are no matches this weekend due to the World Cup final)."

McGee was frustrated over the number of errors his team made in the first half against the Bedfordshire visitors.

He said: "Three of their first-half tries came from loose passes. Yes, they had some good players, but so do we, and it was our worst performance of the season as we gave them so much help.

"We know what we have to work on during the mini-break."