WHARFEDALE'S 20-year stay in National League One is at an end, but coach Jon Feeley reckons there is much still to fight for.

The Greens' relegation from the third tier was confirmed by the 18-10 home defeat against Hull Ionians last Saturday that also confirmed the east Yorkshire club's safety.

But with matches to come at Fylde on Saturday and at home to Coventry a week on Saturday, Feeley confessed: "I don't want the season to tail off.

"I want us to continue to play the same kind of attacking rugby that we have been playing recently."

Feeley returned to The Avenue with eight matches left and, although they have only taken a point each off leaders Richmond and second-placed Hartpury College in his second spell in charge, he admitted: "It is becoming increasingly hard against teams with bigger budgets and the student sides."

Although they didn't get the rub of the green with the referee on Saturday, Feeley knows that the men in the middle are not why the Greens have been relegated.

He said of the Ionians match: "We did well in the first half and showed our skills and effort.

"Early in the second half, the referee made a genuine mistake. Phil Woodhead was taken out in the air but he gave a penalty against us for obstruction.

"And then we received a yellow card and they didn't for the same offence.

"They were two crucial decisions which went against us but the referee is not the reason for our disappointing season."

Feeley hasn't really thought too much about the challenges that lie ahead next season in National League Two North, where no away match will be further south than the Midlands and there will be Yorkshire derbies against Otley, Harrogate, Sandal and National League Three North champions Sheffield Tigers.

He did reiterate, however, that his job in education is as time consuming as it was in February when he took over but that he hoped that Wharfedale's unique standing within the sport would count for something when it comes to retaining players.