A second visit to Hull and Dale again came up short and travelled back without a point. Dale did start well and put some good phases together but sadly knocked on in Hull’s 22. A Hull penalty followed and then a 50-22 pushed Dale back into their 22. A successful lineout followed and six phases later Hull scored a try wide on the left with Mike Joblin touching down for an unconverted try. Reece Dean extended the lead with a penalty.
Dale then gave away a few penalties which meant that Hull had a lot of territory and possession in Dale’s half. The Green Machine held out until the stroke of halftime. Good pressure from Hull eventually was spread to the right and found Evi Uriburu-Gray free on the right wing. Dean landed an excellent conversion to take the score to 15-0 at halftime.
Dale came out intent on playing some rugby and a team effort led by Jack Pinder ended with a break from Louis Verity. A try looked to have been scored but Verity was adjudged to have lost the ball over the line. Dale now built through the phases and a couple of penalties gave the visitors an attacking lineout. 5 phases later the ball was sent down the line and Josh Prell scored wide on the right.
Dale were now playing some good fluent rugby and were back in the game. Hull’s next score showed that they were concerned about Dale’s attacking ability. They were awarded a penalty 42 metres out and chose to kick at goal. Dean was accurate and the lead was now 13 points. Dean missed another long range effort but landed another from 47 metres to extend the lead. The last penalty also saw Ben Markey get a yellow card.
Dale’s 14 finished the game strongly and the pack rumbled over from an attacking lineout with Ben Patchett awarded the score.
The injury count for Wharfedale was mounting as the day progressed but the lads on the pitch gave a full account of themselves.
Wharfedale: – Hodgson; Kaup-Samuels, Cicognini, Verity, Prell; Davidson, Darwin; Dickinson (Meehan 59), Collinson (Patchett 59), Armstrong, Green, Burridge (Coulton 47), Pinder (Borill 46), Markey, Baldwin (Beresford 39).