HARROGATE'S Sam Brady has paid a belated heavy price for what was "a very serious" tip-tackle on Wharfedale's James Doherty in the Yorkshire Cup final at West Park Leeds on Thursday, April 30.

The lock, who was only yellow carded for the incident in the 12th minute after referee Peter Stentiford was advised by a touch judge, was suspended for 15 weeks for the incident at an RFU disciplinary hearing at the Holiday Inn in Brighouse.

Wharfedale did not want to cite the second-rower for the potentially game-changing moment, preferring Harrogate to discipline Brady internally.

However, when it became clear that the lock might be moving clubs in the summer, and that any action Harrogate could take would not subsequently affect them, the Greens took up the reins.

Wharfedale's allegation that Brady committed a dangerous tip tackle was upheld, and he will not be able to play until December 6, 2015.

The RFU panel, chaired by Ian Unsworth QC, accepted the Dalesmen's submission that Mr Brady took hold of Mr Doherty late and off the ball, lifted him beyond the horizontal, inverted him and drove him with force head first into the ground, landing with Mr Brady's weight on top of him. This caused Doherty to be removed from the game and attend hospital, where it was diagnosed that he was suffering from concussion.

Mr Brady denied throughout that he had carried out any act of foul play as Wharfedale alleged.

The Greens' web-site stated: "At this level, it is incumbent upon the citing club to prove the case.

"The panel expressed that it had no difficulty in finding that the citing, which was prosecuted by Wharfedale's disciplinary officer, had been made out to the required standard of proof.

"The panel further found that the tip-tackle was of 'a very serious nature, carried out on a highly vulnerable and defenceless victim, causing serious injury.'

"It categorised the offence as at the top end of seriousness and imposed a sanction of 15 weeks' suspension to be served between May 20 and 27, and then between August 30 and December 5 inclusive.

"He may play again on December 6, 2015."

* Wharfedale have announced three pre-season fixtures.

The SSE National League One club will travel to National League Two North Stourbridge on Saturday, August 15, while a fortnight later they will host Tynedale, who were relegated from Wharfedale's division in 2014-15, again with a mix of first-teamers and Foresters.

The Foresters will also play their traditional curtain-raiser against Yorkshire Division One neighbours North Ribblesdale on Friday, August 21.