The Greens failed to give departing coach James Tiffany (off to New Zealand after Christmas) the best send-off in his final home match in charge. ‘Tiff’ will have awarded his charges full marks for honest effort – but they were second-best on the day against a Launceston side that was sharper and more aggressive in attack.

Crucially, the visitors had the lesser share of mistakes in what was an error-strewn game.

Prospects for a home victory had looked reasonably bright at half-time. The Dalesmen, missing flanker Latu Maka’afi and centre James Tincknell, both injured (Jack Mackie making his debut at inside centre), had the lead, albeit slender, at 9-8. After falling behind 3-8 when Launceston No 8 Sam Hockings claimed a try from a driven maul (14 mins), following swapped penalties from fly-half Mark Bedworth and his opposite number Tony Yapp, the Greens finished the half on top – 2 further penalty successes by Bedworth generating optimism for the second period.

However, the home side’s hopes suffered a sharp blow immediately on the restart. A knock-on from the All Blacks’ kick-off gifted the visitors a launch-pad for fierce pressure that culminated in a very well-worked team try, Hockings crashing over in the right corner for his second touch-down.

The reliable Tony Yapp landed a fine conversion, and the fly-half’s penalty (58 mins) opened up a 2-score gap at 18-9.

Attempting a rapid riposte, the Dalesmen drove to within a metre of the Launceston line, but failed to capitalise in the face of determined defence, and when a desperate mix-up at the other end let in All Blacks skipper Mal Roberts for a simple converted score under the posts (66), the result was all but determined.

Launceston now surged forward, seeking the 4-try bonus-point, but the final score came from the Greens (78), substitute winger Simon Horsfall giving the home fans something to cheer, breaking out from inside the Wharfedale half and outstripping 4 defenders to finish an exhilarating run in the left corner.

Wharfedale: L Gray; I Dixon, A Hodgson, J Mackie (S Horsfall 67), D Hall; M Bedworth, S Cottrell (P Woodhead 69); N Dickinson, G Hindle, A Mason (M Chivers 55), O Renton (T Wareing 57), R Rhodes (S Graham 64), R Brown, D Solomi, R Baldwin.

Launceston: J Fabian (S Perry 76); J Luff, R Westren, M Roberts, K lewitt; T Yapp, E lewsey; T Mathias (J Bolt 77), D Semmens (J Salter 64), B Pow, B Hilton (D Kimberly 72), B Jenkins, J Lord (M Rawlings 73), T Rawlings, S Hocking.

Referee: John Meredith