Wharfedale squad get chance to press their claims

The firsts go into their 20th season in National League One, while the Foresters, after Christmas, will play in the inaugural North-Eastern second XV championship, competing home and away against Hull Ionians and Harrogate – last season’s second- and third-placed sides behind the Foresters in the Yorkshire Premier Division – as well as the big beasts in the North East, Darlington Mowden Park, Blaydon and Tynedale.

While Wharfedale have limited resources, some of their more ambitious opponents in National One expanding their squads with quality signings.

The Greens will be hoping at the very least for a season with fewer injuries than last time. at Stourbridge on Saturday, in the first of only two pre-season matches planned, coach Tom McGee will give an opportunity to a number of players returning from long-term injury to show that they are ready for full contact.

Relegated after ten successive seasons in National One, Stourbridge are commencing their fourth campaign at level four, having failed on each of their previous three years to justify their status as favourites for promotion.

That is not to say that they will not present stiff opposition for Wharfedale, because the Staffordshire side have won two of the three pre-season matches played.

Several newcomers will be out to show their credentials, including latest signing George Hedgley, transferring from Darlington Mowden Park. This Yorkshire Under-20 lock was briefly registered as a Wharfedale colt as he left school, and played in National One against the Greens last season.

The first of the two matches at Stourbridge kicks off at 2:00 pm, by which time the management will have decided how to allocate the forty players between the sides.

The Foresters’ final pre-season fixture is next Friday, August 21, when they host North Ribblesdale (7:30 pm), and the First XV finish their preparations on the following Saturday, August 29, when Tynedale are the visitors; kick-off is at 3pm.