THE defeats of Wales and Scotland were not rugby union's only hard-luck stories last weekend.

In the same bracket can be put Wharfedale's last-gasp 27-24 defeat at third-placed Blackheath in National League One.

It was 24-24 each with 30 seconds to go and the Greens made a line break with the last play of the match and could well have scored.

Wharfedale coach Tom McGee said: "I have just watched the video of the match, and the referee pulled us back for what he judged blocking, and Blackheath scored with a penalty to win it.

"It could have been a magnificent weekend for Scotland and Wharfedale but in the end it was heart-breaking for them both.

"I know Blackheath's coach Mike Friday, and he said we were the best team they have played against this season, and you could tell how close they feel they had come to defeat by how humble they were afterwards.

"We played well from the off and deserved more out of the match.

"In the past two or three weeks, we have been in a really good place and we really challenged Blackheath

"We got so many things right, and if we can repeat them we will have every chance of doing well."

One thing that definitely worked was the catch and drive, which led to two tries for Chris Howick, and McGee added: "We have been working hard on this skill and it is paying off.

"Blackheath are probably the best catch and drive team in the division and their scrummage is one of the best too but we matched them in those areas, and I am delighted about that.

"Also we have backed up our Darlington Mowden Park performance with another good performance but we face another tough test on Saturday at home to Ampthill."

Blackheath are now second and Bedfordshire-based Ampthill are fifth, the National League Two North runners-up having been promoted via the play-offs with a 19-10 home win over Bishop's Stortford.

Ampthill have won four and drawn one of their seven matches but have lost their last two – 15-10 at home to Blackheath and 17-10 at Rosslyn Park.

Wharfedale rest skipper James Doherty who took a knock last week, Harry Skelton taking his place in an otherwise unchanged starting lineup.

Wharfedale: Max Labasse; Matt Van Sertima, Cameron Hudson, Huw Morgan, Dan Tai; Jamie Guy, Harry Skelton; Joe Altham, Ian Larkin, Ali Wade, Jim Mason, George Hedgley, Josh Burridge (c), Chris Howick, Rob Baldwin. Replacements: Chris Steel, Dan Stockdale, Ricardo Cano, Nathan Myers, Harry Bullough.