Wharfedale RU
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‘Safe’ Greens looking to move up the table
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| Mark Bedworth rampages through the Westcombe Park defence through a spate of snow flurries at The Avenue on Saturday. |
Wharfedale secured their place in National League 2 with a comprehensive 38-10 victory at home to Westcombe Park last Saturday.
Although there were snow flurries during the game, the twice postponed match went ahead without any weather hitches' that forced the previously scheduled fixtures to be called off.
Wharfedale coach Peter Hartley said the Greens put in a good all-round team performance to secure their place in the division next season.
He said: "We took our chances, our handling was accurate and we were willing to attack from anywhere and it paid dividends.
"The victory gets rid of any last lingering doubts about our place in National League 2. It was still on people's minds to a lesser degree."
Hartley is hoping for another all-round performance from the Greens when they host Southend at The Avenue on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Wharfedale lost at Southend 32-21 in November when they were not playing at their best.
Hartley said: "It's all about how you play on the day. At Southend we were good in our approach work but poor in our finishing.
"Since then we've risen substantially in the league. It would be nice to improve on that."
After battling relegation for much of the season, a good run of results has vaulted Wharfedale up the table into eighth place. They trail seventh place Southend by four points and a good win could move them above the Essex club.
After losing four in a row, Southend have won their last two matches, including a 24-15 victory at Waterloo, who beat the Greens 30-8 two weeks ago.
Hartley said Southend are a team who like to run the ball and play open rugby.
He added: "Their strength in on the wings. Their main goal scorer, Andy Frost, has also scored ten tries this season."
Andy Hodgson looks to set to return from injury in place of the unavailable Neil Baggett. Sam Sticher is still out with a groin strain while Peter Altham comes in on the bench for Fraser Lovatt.
Wharfedale: Adam Whaites; Andy Hodgson, Chris Malherbe, Mark Bedworth, Simon Horsfall; Andy Baggett, James Doherty; Tom Horner, Gavin Hindle, Chris Steel, David Lister, Anthony Capstick, Alastair Allen, Rob Lednor, Rob Baldwin. Replacements: Ben Fear, Peter Altham, David Clements, Luke Gray.
3:09pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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