Wharfedale look to extend winning run to five games (From Craven Herald)

Wharfedale look to extend winning run to five games

11:49am Thursday 15th December 2011 in Wharfedale

Wharfedale are expecting a bumper crowd as they strive for a fifth-successive National league One win against Fylde at The Avenue.

Their newly promoted opponents currently lie equal second and are in with a realistic chance of promotion at the first attempt.

The northern derby is made all the more tasty by the current form of the two sides.

Fylde, bristling with talent, have recorded some impressive wins while Wharfedale are in confident mood after four straight wins.

The Greens have displayed an ability to win in different styles.

They played flowing rugby to run in six tries as they defeated Tynedale at home two weeks ago, while they had to adopt tactics akin to trench warfare to dig out an 8-3 triumph at Coventry last Saturday.

The Wharfedale team is much changed since they lost heavily at Fylde in September, with no fewer than seven players missing from that squad.

They make three changes from last week.

Neil Dickinson steps up to replace broken leg victim Chris Steel, while on the bench Richard Rhodes makes a return in place of Alastair Allen and Luke Gray comes in for the unavailable Tom Barrett.

Fylde’s team includes the former Great Britain rugby league international Sean Long.

Former Wharfedale prop Peter Altham is also in their squad and his brother Joe is on the bench for Wharfedale.

Wharfedale: D Hart; S Jordan, A Hodgson, T Davidson, S Horsfall; W Bell, P Woodhead; T McGee, B Sowrey, N Dickinson, R Brown, J Quinn, J Holland, D Solomi, R Baldwin (c). Replacements: J Altham, S Graham, R Rhodes, A Myers, L Gray.

WHARFEDALE@S RUN

Barking Home 29-3

Cambridge Away 31-17

Tynedale Home 39-5

Coventry Away 8-3