Having rattled up 124 points against Manchester in the home fixture, Wharfedale must have set off on Sunday (the match postponed from the previous day) in confident expectation of an easy victory. The Greens left Grove Park with a comfortable enough win, and 5 league points, but it was far from a routine romp.

Manchester, much changed from the team seen at the Avenue in September – 8 different faces in the starting line-up – made the Dalesmen work hard for every point. The home side had a fair share of territory and possession throughout, and mid-way through the second half, with the score at 23-28, must even have dared hope that a shock victory might be possible.

In truth, however, such a result was not likely. The Greens were never behind, and it had been their profligacy in failing to convert a host of chances rather than Manchester’s enthusiastic but less creative attacking potential that had kept the margin tight.

Going into the final stages, it was apparent that the home side’s work rate was fast diminishing. The Greens were now in control, and running the gallant hosts ragged. Three tries (Rob Baldwin (72 & 75) and Adam Mason (77)) sealed the result.

In the first half tries for Wharfedale from Latu Maka’afi (8), Simon Horsfall (22) and Chris Malherbe (25), plus a Mark Bedworth penalty and one conversion, against 3 penalties from Manchester centre Sam Davis, saw the score to 9-20 at the interval.

Two converted tries – winger David Moore (43) and scrum-half Danny Carlton (67) – gave Manchester transient hope, with the Greens, meantime, grateful for a Bedworth penalty (48) and Malherbe’s try (60).

Manchester: M Doherty; D Moore, M Rockey, S Davis, M Hall; D Lewis, D Carlton; L Haidinger, J Gould, S Prest, M Walker-Fitton, P Farrington, R Hopkinson, E Millar-Mills, R Murray.

Wharfedale: A Hodgson; I Dixon, J Tincknell (L Gray 70), C Malherbe, S Horsfall (D Hall 72); M Bedworth, S Cottrell; M Chivers (A Mason 65), G Hindle, N Dickinson (C Steel 67), R Brown, A Allen, L Maka’afi, D Solomi (T Wareing 15), R Baldwin.

Referee: R Parker-Sedgemore