Caldy 59 Wharfedale 12

WHARFEDALE were punished for their mistakes as the confident National League Two North leaders ran in six tries by half-time on their way to a resounding win.

The first two scores were the direct result of missed tackles allowing Forbes Edwards and Jack Lavin to touch down under the posts. Lavin's conversions extended the lead to 14-0.

Wharfedale then came back into the game with the try of the match. Fifteen phases of play saw the visitors press the solid Caldy defence before moving the ball left.

Harry Bullough ran a superb line and fed Robbie Davidson who rounded the full back to touch down under the posts. Tom Barrett made no mistake from the tee.

Minutes later Caldy responded with a good move in midfield. Hooker Oliver Hearn accepted a lovely offload and crossed under the posts. Lavin again added the two points.

If the third try was created by Caldy the fourth was another gift. Wharfedale handed Caldy the ball at the back of a defensive scrum which enabled Josiah Dickinson to score an unconverted try.

Lady luck then briefly swung in Wharfedale's favour. Robbie Davidson scored his second try when he intercepted the ball and ran in from 70 metres. Barrett's conversion slipped past the wrong side of an upright.

Dale’s indiscipline then cost them field position. Having won a penalty in their own 22 the decision was reversed for foul play.

Caldy capitalised by using four phases to create the opportunity for stand off Rhys Hayes a little room to work some magic. Superb footwork and balance took him under the posts and Lavin grabbed another two points.

There was still time for careless play to create another try for Caldy. The Greens took the restart but three phases later Lavin pounced on a pass and ran in himself under the posts for yet another easy conversion.

Take away the gifted tries the score might have been 14-7 to Caldy rather than the 40-12 advantage that led to them getting loud acclaim from their spectators as they went off at half-time.

Dale dominated the opening period of the second half. Breaks by Scott Jordan and Barrett looked good but were not followed up effectively.

Dale then found themselves with an attacking five-metre line-out but lost it which was a real blow as they had been performing well in that area of the game.

An exchange of kicks saw Wharfedale back in their 22. A chip out only found the Caldy team advancing against a slowly retreating defence.

The ball was quickly spun right and Royle had another easy try but too far right for Lavin to convert.

Dale again pressed and had good territory and possession, but poor execution gave Caldy time to regroup. During the second half Wharfedale were in possession 20 times but lost it on 13 occasions by not getting the basics right.

Dale were again broken when Lavin went through the middle of the defence. Good support followed his break and he was on hand to finish the move himself and add the extras.

Royle grabbed his hat-trick by following up a hack and beating the defence to touch down. Lavin was again wide but his personal tally for the afternoon was an admirable 24 points as Caldy inflicted Wharfedale's biggest defeat of the season.

There were crumbs of comfort in defeat, not least the return to action of Phil Woodhead, Adam Howard and Scott Jordan after injury and all three came through unscathed.

Many travelling supporters were not dismayed with the performance and returned to Yorkshire with encouragement in the warm words of the Caldy committee and support who praised their team's exciting brand of rugby and togetherness.

Wharfedale: H Bullough; R Davidson, Hodgson (Cicognini 51), T Davidson, Cicognini (Jordan 40); Barrett, J Bullough (Woodhead 38); J Altham (Howard 51), Stockdale, Asejevs (Huck 28, J Altham 68), Rhodes (Ward 33), Allen (Rhodes 65), Hedgley, Whyte (Asejevs 65), Josh Burridge.