WHARFEDALE will be hoping to erase the unpleasant memories of last week's home defeat by Fylde when they entertain third-in-the-table Sedgley Park at The Avenue tomorrow, writes Tony Simpson.

The reverse at the hands of the men from Ansdell left a bitter taste in the mouth of most rugby supporters, with the Dalesmen no doubt doubly upset that they were unable to rescue the situation when their opponents were reduced to 12 men following a major brawl.

Wharfedale coach Peter Hartley had no argument with the means Fylde deployed in getting the upper hand, although he was clearly unhappy about the way the game descended into a wholesale free-for-all, with one Fylde player sent off and two shwon yellow cards.

"Fylde deserved to win - if you forget the silliness," he said. "For the most part their incredibly aggressive defence was within the laws of the game. They hit us with double tackles and we couldn't get our second and third men in support, so that we were constantly victims of double whammies.

"They turned us over time after time and were always coming forward in defence.

"They were certainly up for it from the kick-off and when you lose the initiative in the first quarter, it's always hard to get it back.."

Sedgley Park, then, offers a chance to get back to playing some rugby against a team which also likes to throw the ball around.

The North Manchester side come to The Avenue looking for a double after a hefty 50-24 win over the Dalesmen in December, although Hartley is optimistic that his team can improve significantly on that result.

"The game was never as one-sided as the scoreline suggested," says Hartley. "They deserved to win it, but nothing went for us on the day and the result didn't do justice to our part in the game."

With Park being held to a draw last weekend by Waterloo, their fragile promotion hopes now look forlorn and they come to The Avenue with no pressure to get a result and scope to enjoy themselves.

With centre David Whitfield still out with eye damage after the game against Kendal - an operation may be needed to correct the impact of an innocent elbow - Wharfedale keep an unchanged back division.

Up front, however, they await fitness checks on props Phil Peel and Craig Ingram, who are both carrying legacies of the Fylde match. John Lawn will play at hooker, with Neil Dickinson at tight-head, while David Lister and Anthony Capstick are fit to continue despite enduring a plenty of physical punishment last weekend.

The back-row will also line up as selected last weekend, with Phil Hargreaves continuing at No 8 in the absence of Russ Buckroyd, who misses this game and the trip to Plymouth next Saturday because of work duties.

Wharfedale: J Davies; C Burnett, A Hodgson, G Johnston, G Smithson; A Baggett, D Harrison; C Ingram/P Peel, J Lawn, N Dickinson, D Lister, A Capstick, P Evans, H Verity, P Hargreaves.