Match Report: Tynedale 41 Wharfedale 29

The faithful travelled up to t’other Dale and were treated to an entertaining game of open rugby. It is not often that Dale travel away and score 5 tries and still end up on the losing side, collecting only one bonus point. There was a lot to applaud in the way that Wharfedale played. There were mistakes and some poor decision making and execution. This was without a doubt much better than last week, and all the players contributed to some outstanding Wharfedale play.

The visitors started off strongly, playing fast accurate rugby. A successful turnover led to a penalty and an attacking lineout. The forwards tied in the defence and then the ball was spun left and a long pass from Robbie Davidson created space for Rian Hamilton to score. The restart was taken by Rob Baldwin who charged at the defence and set up Dale for 7 good phases. Dale were soon camped in Tyndale’s 22 and might have scored but the ref got in the way. Dale won the scrum and the ball was fed to Harry Bullough who scored the Green’s second try. Neither try was converted but a good lead was established.

The home team began to take part in the game and had a good foothold in Wharfedale territory. It was however some poor tackling that allowed Tynedale to score when Williams Roberts was allowed an easy run down the right wing. Joshua Leslie added the difficult conversion from wide out to the right. Mistakes were creeping in to the Wharfedale play and they allowed Tynedale more possession. They won a scrum on halfway and then produced some outstanding play to create a try for Rhys Beeckmans. This involved good running, slick passing and supporting the runner. Leslie added the extras and Tynedale were now in the lead.

More mistakes followed and again Tynedale capitalised. As with the second try they created a try by playing fast open running rugby. Hooker Isaac Keller touched down for an unconverted try to stretch the Tyneside team’s lead.

Dale woke up from the doldrums and started playing again. Good ball retention allowed them to press deep into Tynedale’s 22. Another attacking lineout was followed by a few charges at the line before the ball was passed out to Josh Prell who wriggled through the defence to score. Robbie Davidson’s conversion closed the gap to two points at halftime, making it Tynedale 19 Wharfedale 17.

More missed tackles led to Tynedale scoring first in the second half. Roberts added his second but the conversion bounced back off the crossbar. Back came Wharfedale and phases were being put together and Tynedale were beginning to leak penalties. From yet another attacking lineout the ball was sent across the park and Hamilton squeezed over in the left corner.

Tynedale’s Leslie notched up a penalty in the 54th minute and he then added a converted try two minutes later. Dale refused to lie down and Josh Prell came close to scoring before some outstanding play led to another Wharfedale try. Tribute here to the silky skills of centre, Louis Verity, whose exquisite pass to Bradley Viner totally bamboozled the defence and allowed Viner plenty of space and time to score. Davidson added the extras.

Wharfedale pressed for a winner and could have had another attacking lineout but the penalty kick to touch was gathered by Tynedale who then won a penalty and kicked themselves away from danger. Another penalty saw Tynedale set up camp in Wharfedale’s 22 and the pack took over. Daniel Taylor’s try (converted by Jake Rodgers) took the second bonus point away from the visitors.

Other positives from the match were the performances of the youngsters notably Zeb Heys who played in the backrow with the returning, not so young, Rob Baldwin.

Wharfedale: Bullough, Hamilton, Prell, Verity, Viner; Davidson (Kaup-Samuels 69), Gaudie (Riddiough 49); Armstrong, Stockdale (Collinson 54), Ward (Meehan 6), Stockton (Beecroft 69), Hedgley (c), Heys, Pinder, Baldwin