Wharfedale defeated by bottom-team Harrogate in derby battle

WHARFEDALE suffered another heart-breaking defeat despite outscoring their bottom-of-the-table opponents by three tries to one.

The result means that Harrogate have drawn level with them on points with only points difference keeping the Greens ahead of their rivals.

Despite the backing of a large away support, Wharfedale were undone by simple old fashioned rugby. Harrogate’s pack took control of the ball. It wasn't entertaining but it was effective.

The first 20 minutes were dominated by the home side who established a 12-0 lead thanks to four penalty goals from David Doherty when Wharfedale transgressed.

The Greens opened their account from their first real attack. Scott Jordan regathered his own chip before good handling from Jimmy Bullough sent Josh Prell racing up to the line. The forwards finished off the move with Josh Burridge crashing over for a try.

Harrogate’s restart was run back by Jordan and a high tackle led to a Wharfedale penalty. The kick to the corner was followed by a catch and drive and a second try for Burridge.

A fifth penalty for Doherty enabled Harrogate to go in at the break with a 15-10 advantage,

Dale started the second half strongly and were held up over the line. As Dale could not field a fit front row forward the scrums became uncontested.

A clever move from Huw Morgan sent Guy in for a try under the posts. It was third time lucky for Guy as he landed the conversion after failing with his two previous attempts into the strong wind. Wharfedale were ahead for the first time.

A handling error was to prove costly for the visitors. Harrogate pressed through their forwards and Doherty took his personal tally to 20 points with the try.

Harrogate were determined to hang on to the win and their forwards kept the play tight. Any short moments of possession by Dale were given away and the home side ground their way to the finish completing phase after phase of controlled rugby.

It was a frustrating result as Wharfedale played with a lot of resolve. Their tackling, so often criticised in the past, was resolute and they made 112 tackles to their opponents' 20 in the second half.

George Hedgley was man of the match with an outstanding display in the back row where Burridge and Lewis Wilson also impressed.

The handling errors came from the backs but they did produce the best moments of the game. Jordan showed marvellous invention in creating the first try and all the backs contributed to the tackle count.

It was good to see Richard Rhodes and Oliver Cicognini back in action and Rhodes was straight into winning a turn over almost as soon as entered the fray.

The losing bonus point, a small consolation, was Wharfedale's first way point of the season.

Wharfedale Jordan, Prell (Wellock 40min), H. Bullough, Morgan, Cicognini, Guy, J. Bullough (Gaudie 33min, Prell 80min), Altham (Huck 40min), Stockdale (Poole 45min), Huck (Larkin 25min, Stockdale 53- 58min), Allen (Rhodes 18min), Ward, Hedgley, Wilson, Burridge.