Wharfedale……40pts
Preston……………14pts
A COMMANDING performance helped Wharfedale wrap up this clash between fifth and sixth in the table.
At the heart of the victory was Wharfedale captain and star man George Hedgley, who led his side by example.
And straight after the final whistle, he enthused: “We made a number of changes from the second half against Sheffield last week.
“We addressed critical areas, such as giving away penalties and making mistakes.
“We were not perfect but so much better than last week.
“Our skill set in the final third paid dividends and we scored some decent tries.
“And 19-year-old Zeb Heys had a cracking game, as did all the players who came off the bench.”
Wharfedale opened by playing strong, direct rugby and were rewarded with two tries in the first 10 minutes.
Jake Armstrong muscled over to open the scoring, converted by Robbie Davidson, before a second try from a catch-anddrive and a second surge that Preston could not handle. Dan Stockdale touched down and Davidson slotted the extras. Preston got their first try after good play by the backs helped Sam Russell squeeze over on the left-hand touchline. Greg Smith made the conversion look simple.
TEAMS
WHARFEDALE: Bullough, Viner, Prell, Cicognini, Hamilton, Davidson, Riddiough, Beresford, Fawcett, Pinder, Hedgley, Stockton, Armstrong, Stockdale, Dickinson
Replacements: Patchet, Hirst, Weston, Heys, Kaup-Samuels
PRESTON: Hamilton, May, Russell, Gosling, Browne, Smith, O’Donnell, Richardson, Willetts, Norrington, Procter, Naylor, Guest, Wilkinson, Williams
Replacements: Ashdown, Parkinson, Murray, O’Ryan, Haigh
Good breaks by Oli Cicognini and Joe Fawcett then carried play up to the Preston line, and that was finished off with another try from Armstrong. Davidson converted.
Preston scored a second after good fast play allowed Jacob Browne to score wide out left. Again, Smith landed the difficult conversion to leave the score 21-14 at half-time.
Dale’s bonus-point try came after six minutes of the second half.
From a line-out in Preston’s 22, the pack secured good ball and set off on a strong drive, tying in the Preston players.
The ball was then sent down the line to Rian Hamilton who left the defence standing and scrossed the whitewash.
No conversion this time but Dale were now on the front foot.
Further tries then came from Davidson and Jack Pinder, which were both the result of accurate passing and support play.
The second, perhaps the best of the two, came after a break down the right by Bradley Viner. Quick recycled ball was fed to Pinder who crashed over. Davidson converted both to take the score up to the 40-mark.
Simon Verbickas, Wharfedale head coach, said: “I was very pleased with today; all 20 lads were on the same page. We performed well in parts last week but needed to do it for the full 80 minutes, which we did today.”
REFEREE: L ApGeraint-Roberts
ATTENDANCE: 595
Star player
George Hedgley -Wharfedale
