Wharfedale’s rugby players will be trying to make it up to their supporters when they tackle Old Albanians at The Avenue on Saturday.

They felt they let their large following down when their five-match winning streak came to a crushing end with a 51-14 defeat at Blaydon.

Coach Jon Feeley said: “The players were extremely disappointed after the game. They felt bad for the supporters who have given them such great backing in recent weeks.

“There were a lot of Wharfedale fans at Blaydon and the players wanted to do well for them.

“Some of the squad went and spoke to the supporters to apologise for the performance.

“Now it is important we learn the lessons of our defeat quickly and try to bounce back with a good performance against Old Albanians.”

Wharfedale will be without flanker Aaron Myers and scrum half Phil Woodhead on Saturday. They are playing in the Dubai Sevens.

Myers' place goes to the popular Dan Solomi while Matt Dudman comes in at scrum half.

The biggest boost for Wharfedale is the runner from a broken thumb of skipper Chris Steel.

Centre Joe Donkin and winger Josh Prell are fit to take their places in the backs while prop Joe Altham and flanker Josh Burridge have recovered from head injuries to take their places on the bench.

Wharfedale: Christian Georgiou, Scott Jordan, Joe Donkin, Tom Davidson, Josh Prell, Tom Barrett, Matt Dudman, Chris Steel (captain), Dan Stockdale, Ben Hooper, Richard Brown, Richard Rhodes, Jack Barnard, Dan Salomi, Rob Baldwin. Replacements: Joe Altham, Neil Dickinson, Ian Larkin, Josh Burridge, Will Be11.l