AFTER a gritty win at South Leicester on Saturday, Wharfedale coach John Feeley credited the "character" of his players and thanked the supporters for cheering in the cold, wet and windy conditions.

"Our supporters were absolutely drenched but to get a win made it all worthwhile for everyone," he said. "The fans were like drowned rats but they were cheering us off at the end. We thank them for their support."

"It was the game in which we had to show the most character," said Feeley.

"The conditions were very difficult for the players," he said. "We had to stick it at for the full 80 minutes."

Feeley said that the weather made it hard for Wharfedale to play attractive rugby.

"Heavy winds, sleet rain were not particularly suitable for the kind of rugby we like to play.

"Our scrum and line-out play gave us a good platform to stand on, and we were more clinical in the final 22 than they were."

Jack Blackney-Edwards scored some key penalties with his leg, including slotting home the winner in the 80th minute just three minutes after the Greens' Josh Burridge scored a pushover try.

"The game came down to that pushover try from the scrum," said Feeley. "To be able to do that shows the fitness and ability of our front five."

Moving on from the South Leicester last week, the Greens face another Midlands side in Leicester Lions at the Avenue this Saturday.

"Whereas South Leicester are a more attritional side, Leicester Lions are a lot quicker," said Feeley. "The danger will be their speed and movement, which is what we pride ourselves on.

Like last week, he said that the Greens will need go into this Saturday's game with a "clear focus of what we want to achieve".

"We also need to build on our strengths in the scrum and the line-out," he said. "If we can get the momentum in our set piece play and focus on territory, we can be difficult to break down. We've not perfected it yet, but we're developing it each week.

"These players are coming together," added Feeley, whose Greens are now up to seventh in National League Two North as they prepare to play Leicester Lions on Saturday.

Wharfedale will be without scrum half Sam Gaudie, who went off in the 15th minute on Saturday with a shoulder injury.

"He probably won't make it this week, but we've got good cover at No 9."