WHARFEDALE are going into their 20th successive National League One season with a laudable ambition.

Sometimes the Greens have been chiefly noted for their pack power but coach Tom McGee said: “We have a young, energetic side and we want to translate that into the way we play.”

Pre-season victories have come by 22-19 at Stourbridge on August 15 and 45-21 at home to Tynedale last Saturday.

McGee noted: “Our ball control was much better against Tynedale than it was against Stourbridge, where we were a bit giddy when we had the ball. We have done all of our conditioning and structures in pre-season but it is on Saturday that it really starts with our first league match at Coventry.”

The Midlanders, who have a like-minded ambition to play free-flowing rugby, finished third last season behind champions Ealing Trailfinders and Rosslyn Park, and have had good pre-season victories over Chinnor, Cardiff and Ealing Trailfinders and a defeat at home to Cardiff.

McGee said of Coventry, who reckon the Greens don’t travel well: “I expect them to be up there with Rosslyn Park and Plymouth Albion. Coventry will be expecting to win, but we are going there wanting to play.”

The Dalesmen, who only lost 17-13 to Coventry at The Avenue in Febuary but lost 53-26 there last October when the visitors were at a low ebb, have named the same side that defeated Tynedale apart from at hooker.

Former skipper Rob Baldwin therefore stays at No 8, with Josh Burridge, who grew into that position last season when Baldwin was injured, being at open-side flanker.

New recruit George Hedgley is on the blind-side in what looks an impressive back row.

Harry Bullough, who showed imagination and flair at full back last weekend, gets the chance to show what he can do against higher-quality opposition, while the centre pairing of Cameron Hudson and Huw Morgan look stronger with each outing.

The Foresters, who have no game this weekend, are at home to Newcastle University on Tuesday (7.00).

l Skipton were handed a walkover by York RI in their Yorkshire Silver Trophy last Saturday.

The visitors could not raise a team, so Skipton will go to Hessle in the second round on Saturday, November 28.

Skipton start their Yorkshire Division Four campaign at Leeds Corinthians on Saturday, while North Ribblesdale, who conceded their Yorkshire Shield tie at Selby last weekend, begin their Yorkshire Division One season at York.