Oh! what could have been. Dale led this second match in the Northeast until the last eight minutes. As it was, they had to settle for their 1st point of the season which at least moved them two places off the bottom of the league table.
Dale may not have dominated possession or territory in the 1st half but they dominated the scoring, going in at half time leading by 10 points to nil. Billingham had their chances close to Dale’s line but indiscipline cost them at two 5 metre lineouts and Dale escaped. The Green Machine were dominant at scrum time and this gave them a platform in the latter stages of the 1st half. Archie Haddon’s kicking to touch from a penalty award was generally good, making good metres.
The visitor’s first points came from an attacking lineout in Billingham’s 22 and good pressure building on the defence. Haddon knocked over a 37-metre penalty. Minutes later Haddon nudged another penalty award to give Dale a lineout 8 metres out. The pack then took over and an efficient catch and drive was rewarded with Robbie Collinson being awarded the score. Haddon added the extras before leading the troops off for a rest.
Wharfedale started the second half with a good attack which was stopped 5 metres from the try line. However, the Dale eight were magnificent at the scrum and won a penalty which Haddon converted.
Discipline then left the Green Machine going backwards and eventually skipper George Hedgley was shown a yellow card. Billingham took full advantage of the man advantage and scored two tries and grew in confidence. The tries were scored by Ryan Kirkbride and Eldon Myers, both were converted by Peter Evans. In between Haddon added another three points for Wharfedale.
The best try of the game was scored by Billingham to take the lead on 72 minutes. Good running and handling down the right was rewarded with Eldon Myers getting his second try which was converted.
Myers was himself yellow carded with 5 minutes left, but Dale could not get over the line to snatch victory. The name Myers might be remembered by the faithful. The eldest Myers played, with great distinction, for Wharfedale. He was followed by Nathan Myers who went on to play for Billingham and helped them to get promotion to National Two North. So, another Myers causing problems for Dale – how many more are there?
Another defeat but a much-improved performance. The front row was magnificent winning a lot of scrum penalties. The supremacy carried on even when the personnel changed and the bench players were introduced. The centre partnership of Ben Blackwell and Oli Cicognini continues to develop and Archie Haddon’s kicking was generally very good. There are things to work on before Dale play the third Northeastern team, Darlington Mowden Park at the Avenue on Saturday.
Wharfedale: – Bullough; Viner, Blackwell, Cicognini, Howarth; Haddon, Kaup-Samuels (Darwin 68); Dickinson (Armstrong 74), Collinson (Wills 59), Armstrong (Ward 62), Heys (Tweedale 64), Borrill, Pinder, Weston (Beecroft 62), Hedgley (c)