Plymouth Albion 45, Wharfedale 3: A few weeks ago Wharfedale might well have anticipated this final National League Two match of the season with equanimity.

Plymouth had seemed certain to be promoted and as champions.

It would be a relaxed 'exhibition-type' affair and maybe the Greens could finish off a variable season by completing a notable double. But Albion's heavy defeat at championship rivals Orrell last week changed all that.

The Devonians started this game needing not just a win, but as many points as they could garner to boost their points difference if they were to hope to hold off Orrell's late surge for the title.

To face this the Greens, hit by a string of injuries (including two - Graham Smith and Philip Peel - in training during the week) were forced to field a much-changed side. They worked hard and made a significant contribution to a match containing plenty of fine rugby.

However, apart from a brief purple patch in the opening minutes, when breaks by first Gareth Johnston and then Andy Baggett concentrated the hosts' minds, the Dalesmen were allowed few clear sights of the Plymouth line.

Once again, there was only a Jonathan Davies penalty to show for considerable effort.

He should have doubled that tally, missing an easy chance before his success just before half-time, but against the

seven tries that Plymouth's disciplined and relentless pressure produced at regular intervals, it would have been academic.

Plymouth fly half Tom Barlow contributed 20 points, with two tries and five conversions, the other tries coming from winger Pat Sykes (2), hooker Mark Harper and back-row men Danny Thomas and Dan Ward-Smith.