WHARFEDALE coach John Feeley will be focusing on the Greens "mental approach" going into the second half of the season.

After a relatively solid first half, the Greens went into the winter break on the back of tough 20-15 loss at Sedgley Park.

"The game at Sedgley Park encapsulated our season so far," said Feeley. "We were more than competitive and very much in control, but we did not manage to see the game out. We need to learn how to do this.

"Looking at the season, we've been in every game. But we need to look at our mental approach and how we can be stronger to make the right choices."

Although Wharfedale are in 11th place in National League Two North, they have seven wins - five more than they had at this stage of the season last year.

"We've been scoring tries and the defence has been excellent in the main," said Feeley. "We've been able to suffocate the opposition and teams are finding it difficult to play against us.

"We've got a great deal to be proud of in the first half of the season," he said. "We're learning to adapt to circumstances in each game and moving forward we've got a lot to be excited about.

Feeley is now eagerly awaiting the second half of the season.

"The quality of the league is very high and teams are very close," he said. "If you get two wins you could be in the top six, whereas two losses could see you in the bottom six. Everybody is capable of beating everybody.

"We have the ability and talent, and the players are putting themselves forward for the club," said Feeley. "I do enjoy working with this team because they're committed and hard-working."

Although the first team had a weekend off over the festive period, Feeley said: "It doesn't stop for me. I have to look at how I can improve the environment and our mental approach."

The players were also back in training for New Year's Day and going into this Saturday's game against fourth-place Hinckley at the Avenue, the Greens will be looking to avenge a "heart-breaking" 33-24 defeat early on in the season when they lost due a late interception try followed by a penalty.

Kick-off this Saturday is at 2pm.

With no first team rugby over Christmas, it was left to the Foresters and the Development XV to provide the club's supporters with their festive fix of rugby.

A crowd of well over 500 hardy souls assembled for the Boxing Day games against near neighbours North Ribblesdale.

Two closely fought matches saw the Greens victorious, with the Foresters winning 36-22 against North Ribblesdale's first team and the Wharfedale Development XV beating North Ribb 2nds 46-21.

The Greens, whose December 15 match at Huddersfield was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, will now play the fixture on Saturday, February 23. The kick-off at Lockwood Park will be at 3pm.