Wharfedale 26 Sedgley Park 19

WHARFEDALE started their home campaign with a hard-fought National Two North victory over Sedgley Park.

This was a battle of the forwards, and both sets of backs gained credit for moving the ball around and tackling very well.

It made for an entertaining afternoon and the result was in doubt until the final whistle.

Dale’s Head Coach, Jon Feeley, was confident from the start saying: “We’ll win today,” just before kick-off.

That resolve and confidence spread out to the team with the players leaving nothing out on the pitch.

Wharfedale had to sustain long periods of pressure but held the line and Park found it hard to break the resolve of the home side.

The Tigers started well but a superb tackle from Ben Leacock was followed up by Dan Stockdale who forced a penalty.

Dale were guilty of small errors early on and this gave Park some good positions, but they could not capitalise.

A superb tackle from Rian Hamilton, who then forced a penalty, kept them at bay.

Dale lost the resulting line-out but strong tackling forced Sedgley back and turned over possession.

Good drives from the forwards took the ball up to halfway and then the ball was spun to the right.

Hamilton benefitted from excellent work by Rhys Lovegrove, who took out three players, to open the scoring. Tom Mann converted.

Sedgley Park hit back with two good tries. Matthew Riley and Jamie Harrison touched down with Oliver Glasse converting both to take Park into the lead at the break.

Park’s second try came on the stroke of half time and they went in leading by seven points.

Dale showed renewed purpose after the interval. Again, Park had possession but could not make progress and eventually kicked the ball away.

The ball was taken by Will Lawn and moved right. Hamilton grabbed his second try after following up his own grubber kick to beat the defence to touch down for a converted try.

Park’s pack rumbled forwards for a while and with the help of a couple of penalties got into Dale’s 22.

A superb tackle by Matty Houghton stopped progress and forced a penalty for not releasing.

A further penalty at a ruck enabled the Greens to secure good field position.

A burst from Sam Booker was followed by good second and third phase ball.

A break by Will Edwards was finished off by Lovegrove but Mann missed the conversion.

Dale were now back in the lead. Park were not finished and put pressure on Dale ending with Andrew Riley scoring in the right-hand corner.

Glasse could not convert so the scores were level at 19-19.

Good pressure from Oli Cicognini led to Park dropping the restart and giving Dale an attacking scrum.

The bonus-point try came when star man Houghton took the ball on the Park 22 and crashed through Samuel Lowthion to go close.

A no arms tackle led to a penalty try and a yellow card to Andrew Riley.

It was the final score of an absorbing contest.

Wharfedale: Tom Mann, Rian Hamilton, Ben Parkinson, Rhys Lovegrove, Oli Cicognini, Will Edwards (Ralph Wellock 61), Will Lawn, Toms Asejevs (Sam Booker 54, Reece Ward72), Dan Stockdale, Reece Ward (Joe Altham 29), George Hedgley (c), Ben Leacock, Matty Houghton (Sam Booker 76), Chris Walker, Callum Lockett (Josh Burridge 40). Replacement (not used): Josh Prell.