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Wharfedale will have one eye on next week's Yorkshire Cup final when they complete their league campaign against Halifax at The Avenue this Saturday.

The cup final clash with Doncaster at Harrogate (kick-off 6.45pm) on Wednesday promises to be a close encounter.

Greens' coach Peter Hartley will be hoping it's third time lucky, as not only did they lose last year but also in 2006.

"Let's make sure it doesn't happen again," said Hartley. "But Doncaster will also be trying hard to win it again as they've been playing their first team in this year's cup matches."

Wharfedale beat a resilient Beverley side 24-11 in Wednesday semi-final cup match and will be hoping to raise their game for Doncaster.

Although Hartley said it wasn't their best performance, he did say the Greens did well in the second-half against Beverley.

He added: "But we've got to give credit to the opposition. It was their last game of the season and they were at the top of their game."

The mid-week match served as good preparation for this Saturday's final league against derby rivals Halifax, a game which kicks-off at 3pm.

The match will be a a bit of a farewell for the two sides, as Halifax currently sit bottom of the league and consigned to relegation from the league next season.

Hartley said end of season games are always tough and this year's match will be quite different from last year when Wharfedale closed the season with a 36-36 tie against league champions Esher.

"That was a wonderful game of rugby," said Hartley. "This year the motivation is the other way around. Halifax will have a lot of motivation, probably more than us, as we'll have one eye on the cup final. They will want to make a statement as they leave this league."

In the continuing absence of Simon Horsfall (neck injury) Neil Baggett, who scored the winning try deep into injury time at Ovenden Park in the first match of the season, returns to the side on the wing.

Chris Malherbe and Mark Bedworth swap shirts, with Andy Hodgson continuing at outside centre. In the pack, Chris Steele returns from the Leeds-Doncaster cup battle but otherwise it's as you were, with Gavin Hindle making his 100th start for the Greens. Although Hartley did say that Rob Baldwin is a doubt with leg injury.

Wharfedale: Adam Whaites; Mark Bedworth, Andy Hodgson, Chris Malherbe, Neil Baggett; Andy Baggett (c), James Doherty; Tom Horner, Gavin Hindle, Chris Steele, David Lister, Antony Capstick, Alastair Allen, Rob Lednor, Rob Baldwin. Replacements: Dave Charnley, Peter Altham, Dave Clements, Luke Gray.

The Halifax game will kick-off at 3pm and after the game is finished the club will be hosting an end of season bash.

In line with last year's successful end of season party, a live band will kick off the evening starting at about 5.30pm and going on until late.

This Sunday sees Wharfedale hold a Memorial Match for Trace Aldersley, who passed away earlier this season.

All funds raised on the day will go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with players paying a £5 match fee.

There will be a BBQ and the fun starts at 2pm.

Stars of yesteryear (Over 35s) play the club's Under-25s who stood in after Tynedale Vets struggled to field a side.

2:52pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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