WHARFEDALE returned to League action with a vengeance on Saturday when they defeated visitors Esher 26-21 at The Avenue.

What a pulsating, attractive and thoroughly entertaining match it was, well deserving of the generous applause which greeted both teams at the finish.

The Greens, though, as at Newbury, outscored by three tries to two, won and in doing so triumphed over arguably a marginally more creative side. They did so because they were able to exert a more forceful grip on affairs while they were in control, took their limited scoring opportunities with clinical efficiency - including kicking their penalties when it mattered - and had just that greater edge of defensive resilience when under the cosh for periods in the second half.

Wharfedale began as if in the mood to give the lie to the impression given to some last week that they only lost because they only half wanted to win. A period of purposeful, direct play up the slope against a stiff breeze commandeered the early momentum of the game, with David Pears clearly revelling in keeping his erstwhile colleagues on the back foot and after two minutes forcing a lineout on the visitors' 22.

From the resultant peel, Sam Cottrell's short pass unleashed the rampaging David Lister, whose commanding pace cut an untouched 40-yard swathe through the Esher defence. Pears' conversion and penalty three minutes later duly established a 10-point lead.

But the visitors quickly showed that they had plenty to offer in attack themselves. Building on an Ed Jennings penalty, their constructive and varied deployment of phases within the 22 produced an excellent three-quarter finish in the corner by centre Piers Jennings.

Wharfedale's second try showed their ability to capitalise on a half chance when Gareth Johnston's alert pick-up of a stray pass put him clear to send in the supporting Chris Malherbe. Pears' conversion stretched the lead to 17-8, but a fine reprise of their earlier three quarter expertise saw Gregory this time feeding his centre Ross Jennings for a second Esher try which, with a second Jennings penalty, left Wharfedale only a point ahead at 17-16 at half time.

Switching their game to a much narrower back row driving style against the wind, the ball carrying of familiar foes Glyn Dewhurst and Chris Wilkins began to exert sustained pressure on the home side for the first time and eventually produced a try from a driven lineout maul by hooker Fergus Gallagher which edged Esher ahead for the first and only time in the match.

But two sustained periods of intense pressure from the Wharfedale pack brought their reward with three penalties from Jonathan Davies, the second a massive kick from widish out just short of half way to regain the lead at 23-21.

The final seven minutes of unyielding last-ditch defence against the visitors' furious assault then secured a hard-earned but well-justified victory.

So Wharfedale, along with Sedgley Park, remain unbeaten at the top of the table. Statistics may not exactly, lie but early season league positions can prove disingenuous. Indeed, the cynical may argue that in winning each of their last four games by less than a single score and an aggregate of a mere 14 points, Wharfedale are struggling at the top!