Greens show promise as they defeat Scottish rivals (From Craven Herald)

Greens show promise as they defeat Scottish rivals

10:22am Thursday 19th August 2010 in

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Wharfedale 33,Stirling County 30

Wharfedale began their preparations for the new season in earnest with a friendly encounter against new visitors Stirling County, last season’s champions of Scottish Premier Division Two.

And it proved to be an excellent first outing for the Greens against lively and competitive opponents, already match-hardened with two hefty wins against Borders rivals.

A proper match of two full halves rather than the confusing endless merry-go-round of rotating players that characterises too many pre-season games, provided both a useful and demanding test for the respective squads.

It was also meaningful competitive entertainment for the sizable crowd. In fact it was a game which whetted the appetite nicely.

Fortunes swung wildly from one side to the other and there was a proper dramatic climax with the result in doubt right to the end.

Surprisingly, given Stirling’s greater match-time preparation, it was the Greens who made the early running building up a 19-3 lead with three eye-catching tries.

Last season’s scrum half favourite Phil Woodhead, new crowd-pleaser Talite Vaioleti, and winger Chris Black were the scorers for Greens.

Then just as some of the crowd were beginning to speculate about the possible strength of the Scottish Leagues, County clawed themselves back in the game at 19-13 at half-time and then threatened to run away with the match.

Half-backs Edwards and Kennedy and winger Doneghan, all scored tries in quick succession which more than compensated for the pounding their scum was taking at the hands of the powerful Wharfedale eight.

The tries gave the visitors a significant 30-19 lead.

They were helped by former Harrogate prop Ben Sowery’s debut ending in a yellow card.

But once restored to full complement the Greens mounted a determined comeback and close-quarter tries from Chris Howick and Steve Graham, together with Tom Davidson’s accurate goal-kicking earned the Greens a deserved if narrow victory.

Wharfedale were pleased to have successfully welcomed back long-term absentees like Adam Whaites and were equally happy with the hefty scrummaging potential on view with prop Ben Hooper catching the eye.

With several key personal absent, the Greens can be more than happy with their successful first outing.

The fixture may already have a bit of a local flavour –the visitor's coach Eddie Pollock is married to a Skipton girl – but it would be no surprise if Stirling County were to feature in the future as one of Wharfedale’s pre-season destinations.

The Green continue their preparations with an away trip to Preston Grasshoppers on Saturday.

The match will give new Wharfedale coach Tom McGee another opportunity to assess his options ahead of the forthcoming National League One campaign which opens in two weeks time.