BLAYDON 19 WHARFEDALE 23

Half-time: 19-11

This match had everything that a neutral, non-purist could hope for: thrills, drama, mistakes galore – plus fine tries and a large helping of controversy! Ardent followers of either side, however, will have viewed events differently. Any with weak hearts are now under constant observation.

From a very shaky start, Wharfedale recovered to maintain its 100% league record against Blaydon – but it was a mighty close call. Quite apart from having to overcome the lively and robust challenge of a team much changed from last season (no fewer than 10 newcomers in the Crows’ squad), the Greens suffered from a simply inexplicable decision by referee John Meredith that denied them a penalty try at a crucial stage in the first half.

Forced into late changes in the forwards by injuries to Callum Connor and Richard Brown, the visitors struggled initially to contain the much heavier Blaydon pack, conceding a push-over try, claimed by hooker Matt Hall, and converted by stand-off Richard Windle, as early as the 4th minute.

The set-pieces continued to prove problematic for the Greens, with quality possession at a premium. Stand-off Joe Ford got them on the scoreboard with a penalty (11 mins), but 3 minutes later Blaydon’s second try, by flanker Scott Riddell, after a charge – led by massive outside centre Naude Pretorious – through the Greens’ defence, saw the score to 12-3.

Ford cleared a second penalty (20), but matters then took several turns for the worse for the Dalesmen.

First, a magnificent break by full-back Andy Hodgson set up centre Mark Bedworth for a routine finish close to the posts. Bedworth, unaware that he had a defender at his back, delayed his touch-down and had the ball jolted from his grasp. Visiting fans had barely come to terms with that when Blaydon’s Kevin McShane broke down his wing and provided scrum-half Tom Rock with a routine scoring pass, the conversion making it 19-6.

The Greens retaliated with a slick move that tore open the home defence. With a 2-man overlap, Hodgson aimed a pass outside. Blaydon right-winger Matthew Dehaty prevented the certain try with a blatant deliberate knock-on. Penalty try certainly. Yellow card almost as inevitable. Mr Meredith, however, had an extended consultation with his touch-judge and awarded just a penalty – though what for, and why, remains a mystery.

A side with less spirit could well have buckled, but Wharfedale reacted in the best possible way. Pressure was maintained close to the Blaydon line and a degree of justice secured when a forceful disruption of a Blaydon scrum ended with flanker Dan Solomi grabbing a try.

19-11 adrift at half-time, the Dalesmen showed true grit and determination in the second period. They survived Alastair Allen’s yellow card (45), even cutting the deficit to 19-16 with Ford’s thrilling dash from half-way to the left corner, during his absence.

Enter debut-man Latu Maka’afi, late-draftee into the squad from the Foresters, to take a scoring pass from Bedworth, after the centre had redeemed himself with the telling break, and crash over (63) for what would prove, with Ford’s conversion from the touchline, to be the winning score.

There was much shouting before it was all over, with chances for both sides, and manifest relief among visiting fans at the final whistle. But the victory, ultimately, and probably deservedly, was Wharfedale’s.

Blaydon: A Baggett; M Dehaty, J Fitzpatrick, P Dias, K McShane; R Windle, T Rock; R Kalbraier, M Hall, A McKenzie (J Clarke 66), N Pretorious, C Wearmouth, M Wilson (G Jones 48), S Riddell, J Smithson (K Wood 62).

Wharfedale: A Hodgson; S Horsfall, C Malherbe, M Bedworth, L Gray; J Ford, S Cottrell (D Hall 75); T Horner (P Altham 77), S Graham (N Clarke 66), M Chivers, J Mason (L Maka’afi 48) A Allen, T Ball (C Howick 75), D Solomi, R Baldwin.