Happy days as Wharfedale put distance between themselves and National League Two North relegation rivals

ON AN afternoon when only the hardiest of souls among the attendance of 339 stood in the open, Wharfedale began to put some distance between themselves and the relegation berths.

Their bonus-point victory over Tynedale in their game in hand moved the Green Machine up two places to 11th, above Luctonians and Harrogate, and put them ten points ahead of Scunthorpe in what is likely to be the third demotion spot.

"We have now won six on the bounce at home and we have another home game next week against Harrogate," said 19-year-old Wharfedale flanker Lewis Wilson.

"If we win that, it really will be a case of happy days.

"If we keep on winning our home games then we will be fine, but it would be nice if we could transfer some of that home form when we go away (they haven't won away from home in the league for almost 15 months)."

Despite playing uphill into a strong wind that often brought driving rain with it, Wharfedale led 12-3 at half-time, having had 90 per cent territory and 80 per cent possession, and they added three more tries in the second half to clinch that vital extra point.

Wilson, who is on loan from Yorkshire Carnegie, said: "We expected the muddy conditions, and for the first 20 minutes we kept the ball really well and played in the right areas.

"Our catch and drive was class, and it is something that we had practised in training, and we got the five points from the match."

The rain, driven on the wind, was the kind that stings the forehead and gives one an instant headache, as I found out when I exited my car, and The Avenue was soon witness to howling of a different kind as, in the light of referee Jamie Leahy's performance the previous week, Wharfedale fans were soon shouting for Ben Davies (Liverpool Society) to yellow card Tynedale players for (a) a high tackle and (b) a deliberate knock-on.

Mr Davies kept his cards firmly in his pocket for most of the first half, however, as the home side displayed excellent continuity and game management to allow Tynedale only one meaningful attack.

That came in the 13th minute but as they spread the ball right after a penalty that had been kicked to the left corner, Wharfedale's left winger Scott Jordan shot out of the defensive line to intercept.

He ran into the home half and as he slowed down desperately tried to stay clear by fending off his tackler three times.

The attack then went right but petered out thanks to a knock-on, of which there were relatively few by either side given the very trying conditions.

Jordan was then shoved into touch near Tynedale's line in their right corner in the 25th minute, but the visitors losing powerful No 8 and skipper Scott Powell six minutes later for a side entry did tilt the balance.

A minute later, from the subsequent penalty, hooker Dan Stockdale touched down for Wharfedale on the half-hour at the back of an impressive rolling maul.

In the 32nd minute, however, replacement prop front-rower Ian Larkin, in his first action since coming on, was penalised for not releasing the ball after being tackled when isolated, and fly half Ashley Smith put Tynedale on the scoreboard by landing the kick from between the 22 and the ten-metre line.

A 5-3 lead seemed harsh on Wharfedale following all their possession and territory but, after the visitors lost flanker Matthew Charters to a shoulder injury, Wharfedale got their second try of the half.

A neat inside pass by fly half Tom Barrett put centre Jamie Guy over in the 38th minute, Barrett's conversion making it 12-3.

The question at half-time was could Wharfedale play as well with the wind as against it and, having changed 14 of their shirts during the interval (Richard Rhodes kept his on), the answer was yes, although Jordan made one important early tackle.

Tynedale were penalised for kicking the ball away after a 52nd-minute infringement, and Barrett found touch down the right-hand side.

A minute later, Wharfedale got an unstoppable drive going, which travelled 18 metres before Wilson touched down.

Barrett did well with a touchfinder after further Tynedale pressure, but the hosts got their bonus-point try in the 61st minute, No 8 Josh Burridge scoring it to finish off an excellent piece of continuity.

The fifth try did not arrive until the 79th minute when man of the match Burridge caught the visitors' defence napping by tapping and going and running over 40 metres past a splintered defence to score, making it a happy day indeed for the Dalesmen.