Signs are good from new breed of Wharfedale Foresters

THIS was a rumbustious game, which at times became a little feisty, but the new-look Foresters and their visitors provided a cracking game of rugby.

In the early stages, both sides suffered from a lack of fluency, but the Greens settled the quicker and following a drive by the forwards, the ball was thrown out to winger Scott Rogers, who went over for a try in the far corner, Jonathon Davies converting excellently.

With the hosts putting Blaydon on the back foot, Davies made it 13-0 with two penalties but the men from the north east responded with a converted pushover try.

But this was a blip for the home pack of front row George Altham, Jake Parkinson and Tom Jackson, locks Sam Smith and Rhys Davies (who interchanged with Richard Rhodes) and a starting back row of Matt Hall, Ollie Snowden and Tom Whyte.

They forced Blaydon into a loose ball behind their line, and Davies rumbled through for a thoroughly well-deserved try, a yellow card then being issued to each side before half-time was reached with the Foresters leading 18-7.

Buoyed by the enthusiastic Jimmy Bullough and playing downhill in the second half, Wharfedale were thwarted by the visitors' No 8 and scrum half, and the match was put back in the melting pot when Blaydon scored a converted try.

But the Greens added a converted try by replacement flanker Sam Mason and, after Blaydon had a men sent off, a driven try for Nathan Myers.

Throughout the Foresters used replacements strategically, and James Meehan, Mike Bradshaw, Nick Atkinson and Nathan Myers all contributed extremely well to the team effort, not forgetting the starting backs of who used the ball with pace and purpose.

Rory McNab, surely a star for the future, Mark Simpson, Joe Slater and Sam Mason also contributed to the good attacking rugby.

Following a good break, Mason sprinted over for a converted try and, after the visitors' flanker had received a red card, the home team came up with a well-worked driven try, pounced on by the dependable Myers.

Parkinson is providing consistent performances in attack and defence, while Hall had a good all-round display, and the half-backs were sharp and energetic in what was an excellent 21-man squad display.

Coaches David Whitfield and John Metcalfe, assisted by Robbie Burnett, are creating a new batch of Foresters to their own design but they are still being formulated.

Blaydon also deserve credit, as does the referee.

Wharfedale Foresters: George Altham, Jake Parkinson, Tom Jackson, Rhys Davies, Sam Smith, Matt Hall,Ollie Snowden, Tom Whyte (captain), Sam Stockdale, Jonathon Davies, Rory McNab, Mark Simpson, Joe Slater, Scott Rogers, Sam Mason. Replacements: James Meehan, Mike Bradshaw, Nick Atkinson, Richard Rhodes, Nathan Myers, Jimmy Bullough.