Apparently coasting at 25-3 ahead at half-time, Wharfedale were ultimately clinging on desperately as Blaydon, their pack simply dominating the set-pieces, surged back.

In retrospect the warning signs had been posted in the first half, even as the Greens built the conclusive-looking lead. Decent possession – indeed much possession at all – from their own line-outs was already scarce. And all the 3 tries, well-taken though they were, resulted from initial errors on the part of the visitors.

It was as well for the Dalesmen that Mark Bedworth had remembered his kicking boots. The fly-half’s 13 points proved vital.

Bedworth began the Greens’ first-half scoring binge with a brace of early penalties (3 & 14 minutes) – the first from 47 metres. Centre James Tincknell grabbed a fumbled ball on the half-way line to sprint clear to the posts (19), leaving a straightforward conversion. It was Tincknell again (32) after Bedworth had combined with flanker Latu Maka’afi to carve the opening.  Tincknell was also involved in the third try, interpassing with winger Iain Dixon before the latter provided the scoring pass for centre Chris Malherbe, Bedworth slotting his second conversion.

Meantime, all Blaydon had to show was a penalty (21) from ex-Wharfedale centre Andy Baggett.

It seemed all too easy. Greens fans were savouring the prospect of a second successive big home victory.

But memories of the champagne performance against Blackheath faded fast, as the second half developed into a one-way procession – heading for the Greens’ line! Apart from a brief respite, when Bedworth cleared a 38-metre penalty (59), the Greens were forced to defend for their lives. Now it was the home side’s errors that threatened to be decisive, as line-outs and scrums were lost to the rampaging Blaydon pack with disturbing regularity.

Scores had to come but by dint of sheer bloody-minded determination, the Dalesmen did just enough to hold out. Tries by lock Chris Wearmouth (50), winger Scott Riddell (69) and hooker Matt Hall (78), plus 2 Baggett conversions, left Blaydon a single score short – and no doubt cursing their first-half profligacy.

Wharfedale: L Gray; I Dixon, C Malherbe, J Tincknell, S Horsfall; M Bedworth, S Cottrell (P Woodhead 72); M Chivers (N Dickinson 64), G Hindle (S Graham 62), C Steel, O Renton, A Allen (R Brown 67), L Maka’afi, D Solomi, R Baldwin (R Rhodes 57).

Blaydon: A Dehaty; S Riddell, P Dias, A Baggett, K McShane; E O’Brien, T Rock; R Kalbraier, M Hall, J Clarke (S Trethewey 48), C Wearmouth, A Archibald (M Green 69), K Laughlin (J Smithson 67), M Wilson, G Jones.

Referee: Darren Gamage