Wharfedale 14 Tynedale 33

Tynedale handled the conditions better on a day when the spectators could not see across the pitch at times with the strong wind driving the snow down the pitch.

Wharfedale started time match in fine style and opened the scoring when a Rhys Lovegrove kick down field seemed to leave Tynedale frozen.

Any one of three Wharfedale players could have picked up the ball and scored. Oli Cicognini won the race and Tom Barrett landed a superb conversion from near the left-hand touchline.

It was not long before the Wharfedale scrum was driving Tynedale back and after a warning from the referee a penalty try was awarded. Dale were leading 14-0.

Tynedale regrouped and started playing a more fluent game. In contrast, Dale seemed to lose their way.

Dale were defending in their own 22 but failed to use the wind and clear their lines.

This gave Tynedale the platform to attack and from a line-out, 15 metres from Dale’s line they put together 14 phases before Matthew Outson crashed over. The wind took the ball away and Jake Rodgers missed the conversion.

Another poor clearance was run by back by James Spencer for a try under the posts. Rodgers’ conversion meant the visitors had reduced the deficit to two points at half-time.

Tynedale, now with the wind behind them, used the conditions superbly and Dale struggled to get hold of the ball or find any decent field position.

Spencer scored his second try and Guy Pike added the bonus point touch down. Rodgers converted and also added three penalties to leave Wharfedale in the cold.