DMPRFC 26 v WHARFEDALE RFC 27

Although a bitter cold day, conditions were ideal for rugby at the Northern Echo Arena, as Wharfedale RFC visited the Northern Echo Arena for a 1ST XV league fixture for the first time.

Although a gap in the league positions of both clubs, the league points difference is slim, therefore a close game was anticipated and that is exactly how it turned out.

Wharfedale RFC stormed out of the blocks and initially onlookers would think that the home side had endured the long bus journey, as the home side started poorly and were punished accordingly.

Bizarrely, the Championship referee, Mr. Fergus Kirby was taken ill very early on and replaced by one of the referee's assistants Mr, Matthew Daubney, which necessitated a short delay. Both clubs wish him well in his recovery.

Before the sizeable crowd had time to take in events, DMPRFC had conceded 2 tries, both from catch and drive efforts, where the resulting mauls were finished off with touchdowns from the same visiting flanker. Both were well controlled and well executed, putting DMPRFC on the back foot before ten minutes had elapsed (0 - 10).

Both sets of forwards engaged in a typical arm wrestle for control, with Wharfedale enjoying the advantage, as DMPRFC gave away plenty of possession via repeated infringements for which they were penalised.

DMPRFC manufactured several attacks and just as the game entered the second quarter, home fly half Grant CONNON found the gap in the visitor's mean defence, dotting down for the score and leaving himself an east conversion, which he duly converted (7 - 10).

With the visitors enjoying the lion's share of possession, DMPRFC appeared to have weathered the storm without any further score, however, just before the break for oranges, a visiting prop barged his way over for a try which was converted (7 - 17), heaping further pressure on themselves for the second half.

A stern half time talk would have been inevitable and a fightback planned, but the best laid planned are often dashed, as Wharfedale started in similar fashion to the first half, repeating another catch and drive score, with the try again scored by the same flanker, realising a well rehearsed hat-trick (7 - 22). The extras were well converted (7 - 24).

A comeback was required and DMPRFC nearly fashioned it, as they set about the task with a determined vigour that they had not shown prior to the half time whistle.

Some replacements were introduced by both sides in the second half, all playing their part in proceedings.

Within six minutes of the Wharfedale effort, DMPRFC hit backwhen young lock forward George HEDGLEY powered over (12 - 24).

The relief was tangible and roared on by an excited crowd, ten minutes later, man of the match, No.8 Jack ALLCOCK followed suit, scoring a deserved try (17 - 24), which Grant CONNON duly converted (19 - 24).

At this stage, DMPRFC were well on top and Wharfedale were visibly tiring from their efforts before oranges.

Wharfedale were reduced in numbers, when their replacement hooker was sin-binned after just before the end of the third quarter.

The pressure was being exerted in the scrums and Wharfedale were going backwards, so much so that when a series of scrum infringements were being committed, the official had no option to award the penalty try on the third consecutive collapse (24 - 24).

This levelled the scores, but there was no mistake from Grant CONNON with the conversion under the posts, edging the home side ahead (26 - 24 with ten minutes to the final whistle.

Having endeavoured so hard to edge ahead, DMPRFC committed suicide, by failing to see out the game, as a weary Wharfedale were there for the taking.

To their credit, Wharfedale give it their all to recover, working tirelessly to manufacture any sort of penalty.

DMPRFC duly obliged, when an awful kick out of defence gave away possession easily and in their anxiety to regain possession, infringed within kickable range and the writing, after all of their efforts to take the lead, was on the wall, as the visiting fly half made no mistake (26 - 27) with about a minute left on the clock.

Needless to say, it was too late and Wharfedale took the 5 points, with DMPRFC getting 2 bonus points, which helps the cause, but more are needed in the New Year to address the issue of permanency in the league.