A LONG season awaits and last weekend's injury to scrum half Sam Gaudie was untimely, but James Doherty and Wharfedale are in a happy place at the moment.

Following their 17-7 victory over Kirkby Lonsdale at The Avenue almost a fortnight ago and their 31-10 defeat at Hull Ionians last Saturday, in which there were many positives, head coach Doherty confessed: "People talk about (Rob) Baldwin and (James) Tincknell going, but the feeling within the club at the moment is so much better than it was for the whole of last season, and that can carry us through things like the dark days of January.

"It is summed up by the way that the players responded for Wharfedale Foresters last Wednesday at Bradford Salem (which the Greens won by seven tries to two), and we have had a great pre-season."

Wharfedale were up against two separate XVs at Brantingham Park at the weekend, and Doherty said: "We held up really well all through, and I was pleased with the front row, indeed with the whole pack.

"We did pretty much the opposite to them in that we started with our strongest players, and it was only when they brought on a different 15 for the second half that we began to tire, but the young lads were absolutely brilliant.

"Reece Ward help up really well in the front row, and lock Kieran Frost, who probably hasn't played at that level before, showed that he is going to be a good first-team squad player, and he will get opportunities.

"The young lads from Yorkshire Carnegie – Harry Dunne (centre) and Louie Brown (full back) – were full of confidence, and we have also signed centre Ben Blackwell from Keighley.

"Meanwhile, the back row of Josh Burridge, Jack Barnard and James Tyson were superb.

"Having James back is like having a new signing, and if anyone deserves a good injury-free run it is him, but he always stayed part of the squad last season when he was injured, never missing a game and being a water boy or helping out the physio.

"Hopefully we haven't finished recruiting yet either as we want one more back and more forward."

Doherty added: "The only bad news was the shoulder injury suffered by Sam Gaudie in the first half, although we don't yet know the full extent of it.

"He was injured in the last match of pre-season in 2016-17 as well and I really feel for him, especially after suffering that head injury last season."

Wharfedale's players will train tonight and next week in preparation for their National League Two North visit to Macclesfield on Saturday, September 2, but have been given the bank holiday weekend off.