MICHAEL Harrison has set Wharfedale a tough target in their bid to avoid relegation from National League One.

"We need to win at least four of our last six matches," said the Greens' chairman of rugby.

"The next two games – Hartpury College away on Saturday and Richmond at home on Saturday, April 2 – are very tough, but I don't see them as 'free hits'. We have to try and get something out of every match that we play."

Wharfedale are in the highest of the three relegation places, but fourth-from-bottom Hull Ionians, who visit The Avenue on April 16, are ten points above them.

After facing second-placed Hartpury and current leaders Richmond, the Greens travel to Plymouth Albion (currently fifth) on April 9 and host Hull Ionians (13th) before travelling to Fylde (ninth), finishing the campaign with a home match against Coventry (tenth).

Only one match was played in the third tier last weekend, with Loughborough Students, who were immediately above the Greens in the table and six points better off, winning 27-26 at Blaydon, who were two places above the Dalesmen.

"It wasn't the result that we wanted, but other results are irrelevant to us now as it is all about what we do," admitted Harrison.

Wharfedale, via their coach Jon Feeley, have admitted that they are going to play a more adventurous brand of rugby in a bid to stay at their current level for the 21st successive season.

"I don't suppose that Jon would have said that if it had been the first or the second month of the season," confessed Harrison, "but we have to give it a go because of our position. There is no point in doing anything else."

Feeley was hoping to watch the Foresters last Saturday at Harrogate in the Northern Pilot League but the hosts cried off.

"It is disappointing when that happens," said Harrison, who has been instrumental in setting up the competition, "but I hope that they give the Pilot League another season as it has had three benefits.

"Scores have been closer than they were before the league was set up, there is more of a sense of occasion in the games and it has brought the players on more than before."

Harrison added: "Our skipper and scrum half James Doherty is expecting the results of a scan over Easter.

"He has been unlucky in that he has been concussed twice this season but nothing is more important than his long-term health."