Wharfedale 48 Kendal 28

A THIRD consecutive victory - but still the Greens are not safe. With all candidates for the final relegation place winning, the agony must continue for another two weeks.

By an ironic twist of fate, each of the four sides in the hat must face up to a derby match on the deciding Saturday. Wharfedale visit Harrogate, Nottingham are at Stourbridge, Newbury entertain Henley, and Launceston host champions Penzance.

Wharfedale were never in danger of losing this match, and duly completed their third "double" of an erratic season. But Kendal, already doomed to the drop into Division Three North and playing for pride, made the Greens wriggle uncomfortably in the second half.

In arrears by 29 points after 42 minutes, the Cumbrians then took most of the attacking honours with four deserved tries against two for the home side. Remarkably, Kendal's relative superiority in the second period was achieved with just 14 men. Lock Andrew Hudson was sent to the sin-bin for a 41st-minute foul tackle and, one minute after his return, second-row partner Mike Capstick left the field for good, found guilty of kicking a player on the ground.

The Greens had, of course, already made the vital points safe. Over-elaboration, after dominating the first half by doing the simple things well - often very well indeed - was much to blame for their loss of control. Such indulgence could be fatal at Harrogate.

A fourth-minute try and conversion by Jonathan Davies set the tone for the first half and settled nerves. The winger then took full advantage of two penalties conceded by harassed defenders to stretch the lead to 13-0 by the 19th minute. So far, very much to plan.

However, the visitors' "enthusiastic" forward play had already served notice that they had not come over just to make up the numbers. It took a superb tackle from Andy Baggett to halt centre Ian Voortman in full flight. Had Voortman been aware of the clear overlap to his left he surely would not have taken Baggett on.

The Cumbrians did earn a penalty from the ensuing melee, which stand-off Mike Scott duly converted.

A sweeping move involving Baggett, Davies and Chris Malherbe ended with Andy Hodgson touching down under the posts. Davies converted to push the Greens on to 20 points.

Scott and Davies swapped penalties before Davies' second try, in first-half injury time, looked to have settled matters. When Hodgson created a magnificent try from nothing in the 42nd minute, and Davies added the conversion to make it 35-6, the floodgates seemed wide open.

Although full back Dan Stephens finished off a slick move in the left corner for Kendal, normal service looked to be resumed with Davies' fourth penalty and a push-over try, claimed by No 8 Ben Wade to make it 43-11.

But how the depleted Kendal team now fought! They mounted a determined siege to the Greens line, lasting for virtually the remainder of the match. Tries by No 8 Keith Robinson, flanker Phil Skillen and Ian Voortman were no more than just reward for their defiant efforts. And it could have been more, but for resolute defending. A Malherbe tackle on flying winger Luke Ladell earned warm applause, as did David Pears' pressure-relieving kicks, and Hedley Verity twice reclaimed the ball when Kendal forwards threatened to pick-and-drive their way to the line.

The sole addition to the Wharfedale tally in the last quarter arrived with an isolated break-out from the restart after Skillen's try. A Kendal scrum was turned and when re-set Wade had the opportunity to grab a well-deserved second try. Voortman's score was the final word in what had been, despite the inevitable initial tension, a thoroughly entertaining game.

The news of a last-minute try for Nottingham to give them victory over Sedgley Park, and keep the relegation issue alive, covered the Avenue in an anti-climatic shroud. Nevertheless, with three consecutive victories under their belt, the Greens will head for Claro Road with most of the Dale's population in support, optimistic that they can complete the job there.

Wharfedale: A Hodgson; J Davies, C Malherbe, A Baggett, G Johnston; D Pears, S Cottrell; P Peel (N Dickinson 50), J Ogden (G Hindle 74), C Ingram, D Lister, P Evans (R Burnett 74), H Verity, B Wade.

Kendal: D Stephens; L Ladell, M Armstrong, I Voortman, T Whitehead; M Scott, M Airey; N Pearson, I Gowing, D Green, A Hudson, M Capstick, C Wolstenholme, P Skillen, K Robinson.