CLUBS tend not to bleat about the performance of referees, especially when they are near the bottom of the table.

But Wharfedale's head coach James Doherty feels like he had no option after David Clarkson's display during their 31-30 defeat at Hinckley last Saturday in National League Two North.

"We were robbed," said Doherty as a 30-21 lead late on became a heart-breaking one-point defeat in the Midlands.

"The referee talked to me before the kick-off about the new laws and said that there is no such thing as accidental contact with the head anymore.

"It now results in an immediate card but Josh Prell was going over in the corner when he was caught around the head.

"There could have been a case for a penalty try but the referee didn't even give a yellow card, and then Adam Howard was penalised for their winning penalty when he caught their player in the chest.

"It was nowhere near his head, and I am disappointed and frustrated.

"I don't normally bleat about referees, and this is the first time this season, but it was his interpretation of the new laws that frustrated me."

Another decision that went against the Greens came prior to the Howard incident when Wharfedale's Phil Woodhead, who delayed the feed because Hinckley pushed early, was penalised for not putting the ball into a scrum near to the visitors' line, which led to a converted try for the hosts.

Doherty may be angry about how last weekend turned out but he was far from despondent about Wharfedale's second-half display.

He said: "We didn't do what we said we were going to do in the first half, where maybe we should have kicked a bit smarter, but the response was brilliant in the second half for 35 minutes.

"We played expansively, the forwards fronted up, the backs were excellent and Scott Jordan scored two good tries. It was the best that Josh Prell and Scott Jordan have played all season."

Doherty is therefore not downcast, despite saying the defeat was "cruel, very cruel."

He added: "We had only got one bonus point away from home all season before this, and now we have twice as many from one game, but we deserved so much more.

"I am buzzing because of the way the lads played."

Wharfedale are one place and four points above a relegation position as they prepare to entertain Tynedale, who are five places and 17 points better off.

Doherty said: "They are good friends of ours, if it is possible to have a club that are good friends in rugby, as they are similar in geography and demographics.

"We lost 35-10 there in September in what was a very disappointing display, but in the last six to eight weeks we have been a different beast."