Aireborough 43

Wibsey 7

Aireborough may not expect to catch Halifax Vandals at the head of Yorkshire Five North West.

But the fourth-placed Yeadon-based club, who have a game in hand on their promotion rivals, haven't given up on reaching second place and thus guaranteeing a play-off against the runners-up from Yorkshire Five South East.

"We have to win all four of our remaining league games," said Aireborough coach Simon Carbutt.

They are at beleaguered Thirsk next Saturday, at home to Knares-borough (March 12) and Garforth (April 2), and at Wharfedale Rams (April 9).

Carbutt added: "Originally our aim was to win all our league games, but we have lost three, so we have had to go to plan B, which is going up via the play-offs.

"We have had plenty of good young backs and we have tried to play to them with an open style of game, which is coming together.

"Also we have a 26-man first-team squad and have had a rotation system, which has increased the numbers at training. Last Wednesday we had 27, which is the highest for a number of years."

Aireborough welcomed back centre James Darkins for his seasonal debut after a thigh injury, and after five minutes he converted the long-range interception try by fly half Nick Holdsworth.

Wibsey, hampered by having only 14 men until prop Andy Rose arrived in the 32nd minute after work commitments, then embarked on a series of good drives, often featuring skipper Mark Ryan and props Bob Wood and Paul Garside.

But weak tackling gave Aireboro-ugh's Martin Helmsley an easy try in the 17th minute, which Darkins again improved.

Darkins was short with a long-range penalty four minutes later, and then it was 14 v 14 for eight minutes when home flanker Alex Davies was sin-binned.

Aireborough's kicker was off target again in the 26th minute with a penalty after the visitors had failed to retreat ten metres at a penalty.

But, true to their expansive game-plan, left winger Anthony Clitheroe went over in the corner three minutes later.

Darkins added a superb touchline conversion to make it 21-0, but the hosts then paid the penalty for kicking away possession when Wibsey full back Johnathon Karadwic - their best player - ran the ball back with purpose and centre Jamie Vogel went over by the posts. Todd converted, but a Darkins penalty made it 24-7 at the break.

Having had only 14 men for 32 minutes, Wibsey handicapped themselves again when hooker Andy McDonnell was sin-binned for not retreating in the 45th minute. However, Aireborough did not take advantage.

In the 63rd minute, 17-year-old Stuart Brewer trotted on to join his father Steve in Aireborough's ranks, and a minute later they were awarded a penalty try, Darkins converting for 31-7.

In the 71st minute, Holdsworth slid a grubber into space and dropped on it unchallenged for a try, Darkins again improving. Clitheroe finished off a fine crossfield move three minutes later.

Ryan said afterwards: "Paul Garside, Bob Wood and Andy Todd deserve an enormous amount of credit for keeping this club going."

Wood may soon have other things on his mind as he only discovered last Wednesday that his wife Susan is six months pregnant. "We are both shell-shocked," he said.