A good crowd (despite the rain) were treated to a cracking game of rugby. This was a ding-dong battle with the winning team taking the honours at the end of a pulsating game.

Wharfedale scored first when a penalty try was awarded; the result of the dominant Wharfedale pack driving the Darlington Mowden Park pack back. This meant a second yellow for Mowden Park having been awarded one already for a cynical infringement close to their try line. Darlington lost the ball in midfield and it was hacked on by Viner who chased the ball and regathered. He was caught just short of the line but then Park’s No.7, Jacob Butterhill, killed the ball and was given the yellow card. Three scrum penalties later the Penalty try was awarded and Sam Clark joined his teammate in the bin.

The thirteen men played superbly and scored two tries whilst their numbers were reduced. They restarted the game with Dale players still walking back to their positions and they regathered the ball. A high tackle followed and the ball was nudged to within 7 metres of Dale’s line for an attacking lineout. A clean catch was followed by a short drive and then a short burst from Harrison Wood to touch down for an unconverted try.

The visitors gathered further momentum when their downfield kick was dropped on Dale’s 10 metre line and they won the scrum. Three phases later Ben Douglas took a quick tapped penalty and ran in to score, Flynn Ward converted.

Ryan Hodgson took Dale level and Archie Haddon nudged them into the lead from the tee. The try came after more pressure from the Dale forwards and then a good line taken by Hodgson to go through the defence.

Ben Douglas scored two more tries for Darlington Mowden Park before half time, both converted by Flynn Ward. Dale seemed to lose concentration at critical moments and their discipline cost them possession and territory.

Dale’s pack re-established their authority with another Penalty Try – no yellow card was awarded. They then took the lead with a superb catch and drive, from a good distance out, with Robbie Collinson being awarded the score and another conversion from Archie Haddon.

Darlington Mowden Park grabbed the lead back with another unconverted try by Harrison Wood and then clung on until the final whistle. Dale had a lot of chances to take the honours but Darlington managed to spoil three Wharfedale attacking lineouts yards from Darlington’s line.

This was a much better performance by the Green Machine and 2 points were secured. The Dale eight gave another nigh insuperable performance at the scrum and the backs began to show signs of cohesion. The new players also showed signs of development, especially the two new half backs, Archie Haddon and Idris Morgan. It was also good to see the return of Ryan Hodgson.

Both teams should be congratulated for playing an entertaining game of rugby in pretty poor conditions. Flynn Ward’s last conversion showed how strong the wind was. His attempt looked good but as it neared the posts it just stopped in mid-air and then dropped to the ground!

Next week it is Otley away at Cross Green. All support is needed to cheer the team on.

Wharfedale Hodgson; Weston, Viner, Cicognini, Howarth; Haddon, Kaup-Samuels (Morgan 40); Dickinson (Ward 60), Stockdale (Collinson 48), Armstrong, Heys (Tweedale 66), Borrill, Beecroft, Pinder, Hedgley (c) Replacement not used Max Bell