South Leicester 21 Wharfedale 20

WHARFEDALE saw another game slip from their grasp in the closing minutes and found themselves back in the National Two North relegation positions.

Wins for Scunthorpe and Harrogate saw them drop into the bottom three on a cold and grey afternoon which wasn't suited to open rugby.

The contest lacked fluency and Wharfedale were unable to match the level of skill they showed at Hinckley where they lost 31-30 in similar circumstances.

Having said that, Wharfedale will consider the solitary losing bonus point a scant reward for their efforts.

Wharfedale did most of the attacking for the first 20 minutes and had chances to score.

Jamie Guy missed a third-minute penalty and they had a try disallowed when prop Toms Asejevs went over after a superb catch and drive.

The deadlock was broken in the 24th minute when Matthew Riddington landed a penalty for South Leicester.

The home side increased their lead when a mistake in defence allowed winger Blaine Howe to collect a cross kick and canter over for a try. Riddington added the two points.

Dale came out for the second half playing with much more commitment and energy.

The Greens – playing in red and white – dominated proceedings with George Hedgley immense in the line-out.

Two Guy penalties early in the second half were the only reward for Wharfedale's early pressure.

After 17 minutes of the second half the pressure told and a superb catch and drive was stopped illegally. The referee awarded a penalty try and gave a yellow card to South Leicester’s hooker, Adam Johnson.

Guy slotted the conversion and it was beginning to look like the first away win of the season was about to be delivered.

Nothing is ever easy for Wharfedale and they allowed their opponents back into the match by dropping the restart and then conceding a penalty at the scrum which enabled Riddington to make it 13-13.

Scrum half Phil Woodhead, making his 100th start for Wharfedale, was troubling the home side with his sniping runs.

Dale attacked again a charge from Jordon Poole led to Adam Howard crashing over for a try. Guy's conversion established a seven-point lead with nine minutes left.

South Leicester through everything into attack after sending on club skipper Rickie Aley.

It was Aley who came up with a try after his side had strung together 12 phases of play.

Aley missed the conversion and the cry from the Wharfedale ranks was to avoid giving away penalties.

Th message wasn't heeded and when they transgressed, Aley stepped up and kicked the goal from 40 metres to steal victory.

It meant another heartbreaking end to a difficult afternoon on a heavy pitch which stifled Dale’s attacking flair.

Despite being pushed back at the scrum the stats show that Wharfedale had the better of the encounters, winning all their own ball. The line-out was another area dominated by the visitors.

But South Leicester emerged victorious because they did not allow Dale to rack up a score and took their chance to pinch the result.

Wharfedale: Jordan, R Davidson, H Bullough (J Bullough 72), T Davidson, Prell; Guy, Woodhead; Altham, Stockdale (Poole 63), Asejevs (Huck 63), Howard (Kitching 72), Rhodes, Hedgley, Whyte, Burridge (capt). Replacement (not used): Ian Larkin.