National League Two North: Wharfedale 19 Scunthorpe 12

WHARFEDALE fought hard on a heavy pitch to secure their third win of the season.

Open, flowing rugby it was not, but a one-dimensional Scunthorpe never threatened the Wharfedale line.

It was only the long-range kicking from Steve Johnson that kept them in the game, earning them a losing bonus point.

Tom Barrett controlled the game, and his searching kicking from hand and running with ball in hand caused the visitors problems all afternoon.

Barrett also kept the scoreboard ticking over with a combination of penalty kicks and drop goals.

Both defences held throughout the game and, on the slower ground, the Wharfedale backs never really broke free. They were more adventurous than the visitors but Scunthorpe rarely had possession in Dale's 22 and were content to pick and go and then kick downfield.

The Scunthorpe pack were strong in the first half, and the scrum penalty count led to Toms Asejevs being shown a yellow card for Wharfedale.

The second half, however, was a different story as Dale proved to be the fitter and stronger eight.

Three penalties from the 40-metre mark by Johnson were answered by a Dan Stockdale try, which Barrett converted, and Barrett's two drop goals gave Dale the edge at half-time.

Dale stretched the lead to seven points with a Barrett penalty in the second half before another Johnson penalty from 40 yards narrowed the gap before a final drop goal from Barrett finished the scoring.

Referee: Jamie Leahy.

Attendance: 340.