Wharfedale completed a bonus-point double over Sedgley Park, but had to scrap for the victory against a team with a sound basic game and a more than fair share of possession. However, it was the Greens that offered flair in attack, and their 4 tries to Park’s 2 is a better reflection of the game than the close final scoreline.

The Dalesmen’s forwards showed a marked improvement in the set pieces – particularly the scrums – compared to the erratic performance in the Blaydon match the previous week. Young scrum-half Philip Woodhead had a splendid match in his first league start, and behind the pack fly-half Mark Bedworth marshalled affairs with calm assurance.

The visitors saw little of the ball in the opening minutes, during which Park centre Matt Riley’s penalty had the first points on the board.

An opportunist try in the 10th minute got the Greens underway. The ball was hacked ahead from half-way, an attempted clearance from inside the goal area was charged down, and Woodhead pounced to score, Bedworth adding the extras.

The lead was extended to 12-3 ten minutes later, hooker Gavin Hindle taking the honour after a pack drive from a line-out.

A disjointed second quarter – disrupted by a spate of yellow card awards by referee David Walker – ended with Park 16-12 ahead. Riley slotted a brace of penalties to close to 9-12, before Mr Walker took a significant hand in proceedings by removing first Alastair Allen (28 mins), and 4 minutes later sending Rob Baldwin, together with Park centre Chris Hall, to join Allen in the bin.

The home side capitalised on the Greens’ weakened defence, scrum-half Chris Wilkinson worming his way over under the posts (38), leaving a straightforward conversion for Riley.

Wharfedale regained the lead via a fine individual converted try by Bedworth (46), who sped 40 metres to the posts. Riley landed his 4th penalty, briefly tying the scores at 19-19, before another Bedworth break (62) left centre Chris Malherbe clear to the line.

The conversion, plus a penalty (67), opened up a 2-score margin, but Park were not finished. A try by substitute centre Tom Blackwell (75) set up a nervy finale, with the Greens happy to hear the final whistle.

Sedgley Park: S Parrott; P Largan, C Hall, M Riley, M Roberts; R Wainwright, C Wilkinson; S Simpson, R Oxley, N Flynn, P Williams, D Williams, D Livesey, G Dew, J Crous.

Wharfedale: L Gray; I Dixon, J Tincknell, C Malherbe (A Hodgson 70), S Horsfall; M Bedworth, P Woodhead (D Matthews 78); C Steel, G Hindle, M Chivers (A Mason 59), A Allen (S Graham 64), O Renton (R Brown 57), L Maka’afi, D Solomi, R Baldwin.