WHARFEDALE may have lost their last three matches but at least they are heading into a vital National League One clash on Saturday at bottom-of-the-table Loughborough Students, who have lost their last four, with some good news to chew on.

There were fears not only about the rugby future of Greens skipper James Doherty but his future in general after he suffered headaches recently in what seemed a delayed reaction to an incident in April's Yorkshire Cup final against Harrogate at West Park Leeds.

The former Cornish Pirates scrum half was dropped on his head in a spear tackle by Harrogate's Sam Brady in the 12th minute, took no further part in the match and suffered headaches for a week afterwards.

Doherty has played five times this season, including one off the bench, but has been plagued by headaches again.

However, Wharfedale's coach Tom McGee said: "James went to see a specialist a week last Tuesday and is going for a precautionary scan but they don't seem overly concerned and say it is just post-concussion symptoms, which we are treating as a good thing."

The 12th-placed Greens, who are in a pack in the lower half of the table – only four points cover the bottom six with Loughborough 16th and last – missed an opportunity to record their third win of the season last weekend when they let a 10-7 half-time lead slip at Rosslyn Park on the way to a 26-15 defeat.

McGee said: "We are talking about the bottom of the table and I wish we weren't but the table does not lie.

"We conceded 12 points when we had a man in the sin bin, and the players are challenging themselves to do better but there are still plenty of positives.

"We are creating chances in every game, and we are right up at the top of the table when it comes to tries scored.

"I would be a lot more worried were we not creating those chances but we have another opportunity on Saturday at Loughborough, where we feel we can win, but they also have threats in their side."

The Wharfedale selectors keep last week’s back division intact, their average age of 22 no doubt matching their opponents.

In the pack, hooker Ian Larkin returns from injury and starts, joined in the front row by the experienced Chris Steel. Matt Beesley makes a return to the bench.

Wharfedale: Harry Bullough; Josh Prell, Cameron Hudson, Huw Morgan, Matt van Sertima; Jamie Guy, Harry Skelton; Joe Altham, Ian Larkin , Chris Steel, Simon Willet, George Hedgley, Josh Burridge (c), Chris Howick, Rob Baldwin. Replacements: Ali Wade, Dan Stockdale, Matt Beesley, Tom Whyte, Oliver Fewtrell.