Wharfedale 12 Rosslyn Park 17

THIS was another case of what might have been for Wharfedale.

Faced with a half-time deficit of 17-12 and the slope to contend with in the second half, the young Wharfedale side showed tremendous character in not only restricting their illustrious visitors to three tries but attacking their goal-line for almost the entire second period.

If Rosslyn Park’s National League One victory was secured by their determined and disciplined defence, the basis of their win was their first-half performance.

The line-out was outstanding and their irresistible driving maul led to two tries.

No 8 and captain Hugo Ellis was driven over for the first of his two tries and winger Joseph Aluwa slipped in after the pack created a gap on the blindside.

The match had begun so well for the Greens. It took Dan Solomi only five minutes to burst from a ruck on the 22 to outpace the defence to the line, giving Jamie Guy the conversion.

Then on 27 minutes, James Tyson, later to leave the pitch injured, finished a Wharfedale maul to level the scores.