Wharfedale 33, Rosslyn Park 24

Wharfedale, making light of their mounting injury list, eventually dominated their table-topping SSE National League One visitors to record their best performance of the season yesterday.

Park, except for a resilient period in the second quarter, were largely on the receiving end of some fine Wharfedale play- at first by the home back division and throughout the second half at the hands of fiery Green forward display.

The Londoners’ defeat brings to an end a run of nine straight victories and dislodged them from pole position in the table.

Wharfedale, for once, were quickly into their scoring stride.

Fluent approach play and close pressure allowed prop Joe Altham to steal over. Local boy Lloyd Davies succeeded with a towering conversion and proceeded to procure 18 points in a starring performance which saw him add pace and penetration to the attack and well as claiming a neat blind-side try.

Wharfedale surrendered a 10-0 lead, succumbing to tries from visiting flanker Darren Ball and centre Steve Hamilton for Park to lead 17-10 at the break, significantly profiting from a yellow card to Dom Barrow.

Wharfedale increasingly upped the pressure to record a Dan Solomi try from a driven maul, followed by a Davies penalty to narrow the Park lead to a single point.

Desperate defence by the visitors incurred a yellow card to No 8 Hugo Ellis, and the Greens’ assault at the line produced scores for first Davies and then, on the opposite flank, a tight corner-flag try for winger Nick Taylor.

Park’s risk-averse style meant they were never convincing playing catch-up, but a rare escape produced a converted try for fly half Sam Katz to make the score 30-24 before Davies made the game safe for the jubilant home crowd with a fine long, straight penalty.

A disappointed Rosslyn Park could only acknowledge that the Greens were dominant and deserved winners.