Until the final fateful moment Cinderford had looked poised to claim their first victory of the season as their experienced pack ran down the clock throttling the life out of the game with a series of pick-and-drives which left Wharfedale scrabbling desperately for possession.

But a stunning, dramatic last-minute 45-yard penalty by Mark Bedworth, a truly testing pressure kick taken wide-out on left against a high swirling wind, finally settled this switch-back contest in the Greens’ favour.

Their narrow last-gasp victory means that the Dale’s five-from-five opening run – equally their best ever League start – keeps them second in the table and left their battling hosts propping up the division without a win from their opening games.

Though Cinderford can count themselves a shade unlucky it took a performance of considerable self-belief and application by the Greens to recover a fourth time after previously losing leads of 7-0, 10-7 and 25-21 to finally nail the victory.

In a match where both sides were happier in attack than in defending until required to repel pressure close to the line Wharfedale, playing the superior rugby, took an opening ten minute lead with a catch-and drive-try by lock Oliver Renton neatly converted by Bedworth.

Cinderford replied with well-worked short-side overlap try by winger Rob Winchle with Ali Bressington adding the conversion before the Greens inched ahead through a Bedworth penalty.

What was shaping up as a pretty even contest was radically distorted by overlapping yellow cards to Wharfedale forwards Richard Rhodes and skipper Rob Baldwin.

Cinderford needed little invitation to hammer away at the Greens depleted pack and wasted little time in securing 14 points through tries by lock Dan Wright and Bressington both converted by the fullback in the run up to half time to lead 21-10

With everything depending on surviving further onslaught in the opening minutes after the break Wharfedale, still down to 13 men, scored a vital unlikely try through winger Horsfall again converted by Bedworth after his own astute switch of play in the corner.

The Greens centre continued to be at the heart of most things Wharfedale did well, kicking his second penalty before intercepting within his own 22 to race clear and put his side 25-21 ahead with an hour gone.

And when the home side seemed – just – to have done enough when they regained the lead with flanker Adam Nichols’ unconverted try – there was Bedworth again to cruelly deny them right on the final whistle.

WHARFEDALE: S Horsfall (I Dixon 55); D Hall. C Malherbe, M Bedworth, I Culligan; L Gray, D Matthews (A Black 69); T Horner, S Graham (G Hindle 45), M Chivers (A Mason 75); R Rhodes (R Brown 67), O Renton; L Maka’afi, D Solomi, R Baldwin (Capt.)