National League Two North: Wharfedale 21 Leicester Lions 23

A VERY spirited match was just edged by Leicester Lions, despite Wharfedale playing some excellent rugby and matching the visitors in all phases of the game.

Early pressure from Dale went unrewarded and it was Leicester who took a 13-0 lead.

Lions took a Dale line-out on their own ten-yard line and spun the ball to left winger Constant Devon, strong running taking him through three tacklers to open the scoring.

Jonathan Boden converted, and James Grayshon went on to add a drop goal and a penalty.

Dale hit back and drove a Lions scrum back and won a penalty.

The kick to touch was followed by a catch and drive from which Joe Altham broke to score, with  Jamie Guy adding the extras but another Boden penalty left the score at 16-7 to the Lions at half-time.

The same sequence was repeated for Dale's second try in the second half, with Josh Burridge getting the score, with Guy again adding the conversion to bring Dale within two points.

With Dale sensing victory, they were punished by referee Finlay Brown, who sent George Hedgley to the sin bin for a no-arms tackle.

A few phases later, Drew Ruskin broke up to halfway and fed Jamel Hamilton, who ran in unopposed, with Boden's conversion making the score 23-14.

However, Harry Bullough grabbed a late try to give Dale a hard-earned point, with Guy's conversion finishing the game.

Rob Baldwin ruptured tendons in his arm late in the match and is expected to be out for a lengthy period.

Referee: Finlay Brown. Attendance: 417.