WHARFEDALE'S director of rugby Rob Baldwin is delighted to have signed another three players for the National Two North club this week, although one almost slipped through his fingers.

Big second-row Ben Leacock has joined Wharfedale from Kendal after being recommended by Matty Houghton, who made the same transfer from Cumbria to Yorkshire last year.

However, Baldwin admitted that circumstances last season almost contributed to a near-miss, saying: "Talks with Ben started late because we obviously had relegation fears and he nearly moved elsewhere.

"He was probably within a week of signing for another side, but I just asked him to come down to the club and see what we were about.

"He gave us a chance, liked what he saw, and we really sold it well. He could be a key member of the squad, as we needed a second row after losing Kieran Frost to Yorkshire Carnegie."

Winger Kristian Sharples and prop George Martin have also signed, and both players have previous experience of the league, but Baldwin did not want to dwell on that too much.

He said: "Kristian has played for Otley and Huddersfield in National Two but he didn't get a lot of games because he had bad luck with injuries. Hopefully he's put that behind him.

"He's got the bit between his teeth now, because he really wants to prove himself at this level."

Regarding Martin, Baldwin said: "We have good links with Dan Harrison at Sedbergh and he keeps a close eye on players who have left the school like George.

"Last season, he was at Leeds Beckett University and one of his teammates there was at Huddersfield already, so he ended up playing in the last four games of the season for them.

"He's only 18 and he's keen to learn. It won't be easy, but we'll give him lots of time to develop. He's unlikely to be starting yet, but he has a chance if he performs well."

In other pre-season news, Wharfedale have also welcomed back Will Davidson and Sam Gaudie from long-term injuries and Will Bell has returned to the fold after a two-year absence due to family commitments.