On a fine autumn afternoon the Foresters travelled across to York hoping to build on the half hour of rugby against Sheffield Tigers the week before. There were a couple of changes to the squad with call ups to the firsts and the return of Houghton, Burridge & Stockton from the injured reserve list.
The Foresters started in very scrappy fashion as if the hour and a half journey had been on a coach, this, aided by a strong and committed start by the hosts, resulted in an easy penalty attempt which was converted.
York continued to press but the defensive line held firm. The Foresters didn’t really have any territory until a wayward York lineout was snaffled and the ball moved quickly across the back line to Bradley Viner who finished off up the right hand touchline by the corner flag, conversion missed.
A yellow card to no.8 Josh Burridge for looking after Mountain at a ruck served to galvanise the attacking play. The resulting penalty kick missed touch and was returned upfield and after a series of phases Owen Bullock capitalised and crossed wide out on the left. Again the conversion was missed.
As half time approached both sides cancelled each other out.
York 3-10 Foresters at the break.
Shortly after the break Rory MacNab converted a straight forward penalty attempt. Another couple of yellow cards were produced by the referee to lock Borrill for retaliation and his assailant the home hooker.
The next two tries were again recorded by Bullock completing a quick fire hat trick. One was converted by MacNab.
The Foresters were now in the ascendancy and finished the match off with a couple of quality tries the first for centre Louis Verity following good work down the right wing by Viner and Fawcett. The ball was recycled quickly and fed across the line to Verity who crossed near the posts, converted by MacNab.
Viner the got his second following good work from Stockton,Parkinson and Borrill, conversion missed from wide out.
All in all it had been a good day at the office for the Foresters who remain unbeaten in the Yorkshire Premier league
Full time: – York 3-37 Foresters.
Wharfedale: – 1. Ben Patchett, 2. Madison Hunting, 3. Sam Dickinson, 4. Max Mountain, 5. Simon Borrill, 6. Matt Houghton, 7. Tom Whyte (c), 8. Josh Burridge, 9. Will Lawn, 10. Rory MacNab, 11. Owen Bullock, 12. Louis Verity, 13. Tom Mann, 14. Bradley Viner, 15. Sam Mason.
Replacements: – 16. Jake Parkinson, 17. George Altham, 18. Elliot Stockton, 19. Joe Fawcett, 20. Joe Gill