WHARFEDALE fear that they could be without influential back-rower Josh Burridge for several weeks.

Burridge injured a knee late in the second half of their 63-27 defeat at second-placed Sale last Saturday.

Wharfedale’s head coach James Doherty said: “Josh is waiting to be assessed but it didn’t look good.”

Burridge caught his studs in the turf before suffering an impact on a knee and, with only five league matches left, there is a fear that his season could be over.

However, the only saving grace is that those matches are spread over seven weeks, with Wharfedale having a free date this weekend.

They should have been at Hull in a Yorkshire Cup quarter-final on Saturday but the East Yorkshire club, who are third in National League Three North, have a re-arranged league match at Morley, which takes priority.

While some are praising Wharfedale for picking up a four-try bonus point at Sale, Doherty was more critical of their overall display.

He said: “People have talked about our never-say-die attitude but I don’t think that was the right expression. I would say that flaky would be a more accurate description.”

Doherty added: “There was an honest conversation afterwards about our performance – there was no shouting – and it was not what we are about.

“We were too stand-offish in defence and allowed them to get on the front foot, and you cannot get away with that against the top two.

“Sale’s back line was very sharp and their No 8 was very good but our defence was poor.

“You cannot have everybody playing at 80 per cent and expect to get something at Caldy or Sale, who are a level above everyone else in the division.

“You have to have one to 20 playing at 90 per cent to get anything there.

“Apart from the top two, however, everyone is capable of beating everyone else.”

Doherty added: “The Hull match will probably be played in midweek at the end of the month.

“We will not be taking our league side over there, apart from one or two who need match fitness.

“We will be giving other lads who deserve an opportunity a chance.”