WHARFEDALE'S third XV convincingly won through to the second round of the Latino Ceramics Aire-Wharfe Cup, defeating Baildon's first XV 43-7 at The Avenue.

Baildon won their first seven matches in Yorkshire Division Three but have since slipped into mid-table and, with neither promotion nor relegation to distract them, could potentially field a strong team.

But the first try went to the hosts up the hill, with winger Simon Horsfall and scrum half Rory McNabb going close before fly half Jonny Davies scored.

Wharfedale's intensity did not slacken, with No 8 Morgan Davies scoring, followed by winger Sam Smith, but Davies (2) and McNabb missed the conversions in a dominant 15 minutes.

Baildon found their feet at last, working tirelessly at the breakdown, but there was no stopping Smith's second try, beating three defenders down the far touchline before cutting infield for a cracking try to the left of the posts, McNabb's conversion making the half-time score 22-0.

In the second half, colt Jacob Taylor, who was excellent throughout, and Smith paved the way for Sam Mason to cross near the scoreboard, and Horsfall then crashed over from short range, with McNabb converting both.

An interception from a loose James Ardron pass led to Baildon's try by Will Craven, converted by Tom Massey, but the Greens rounded off the scoring with a try by centre Will Davidson, McNabb again converting.

Skipton, who fielded a combined first and second XV, went out 15-5 at home to Bradford Salem Seconds.

The visitors took the lead with a penalty by Sam Riley and, despite quick hands from young scrum half George Marshall and accurate kicking from centre Ben Brearley, Salem were soon 10-0 up as Chris Watson scored a try that Riley converted.

In the second half, spirited running by Skipton winger Josh Berrey and excellent forward work by Alex Baldwin put centre Hamish Munro in for a try but, although they won some penalties and had some good forward drives, they could not add to their try, and Salem got a second near the end from Ben Whitaker.

Wharfedale were at Keighley Seconds last night in the second round, but Skipton have withdrawn from a first-round Plate tie against West Park Leeds Seconds due to a lack of players.