Myers and Larkin start for Wharfedale (From Craven Herald)

Myers and Larkin start for Wharfedale

9:11am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport By Gordon Thomas

After an absence of three seasons playing in the Championship, Esher arrive at the Avenue on Saturday under their new management team of Ollie Smith (Harlequins and England) and Kris Chesney (Saracens and Toulon).

Fancied as one of the sides likely to be challenging for promotion, Esher would have been disappointed to lose their first match at Fylde but since then they have recorded two bonus-point wins, at home to Blackheath and last week at newcomers Loughborough.

Wharfedale ’s management is up-beat after last week’s losing bonus point at Blackheath.

It has been the hardest of starts to the season and the six points in the bank are more that some may have feared when the fixtures were published.

Wharfedale opt to keep the basis of last week’s side with minimal changes.

Hooker Ian Larkin makes his first start of the season as Steve Graham drops to the bench.

England Sevens squad member Aaron Myers is given the job of replacing the departed Rob Baldwin in the back row, where he joins James Tyson and Alastair Allen.

His pace should be a useful weapon.

Dan Salomi continues to be ruled out through injury.

Tom Davidson is named among the replacements after completing his cricket commitments with Settle .

Wharfedale: C Georgiou; N Taylor, Joe Donkin, A Hodgson, S Horsfall; L Gray, J Gough; C Steel, I Larkin, A Howard; R Brown, R Rhodes; A Allen, J Tyson, A Myers.

Replacements: S Graham, M Tampin, C Howick, W Bell, T Davidson