National Division One

Morley 29 Wharfedale 17

(Half-time 7-17)

With their side 17-0 ahead after 30 minutes Wharfedale's supporters could be forgiven for thinking that the Greens were on their way to their third successive win at Morley, but the home side rallied to finish worthy winners in spite of a polished individual performance from Michael Hayes, a former member of the New Zealand Under 21 side who was making his debut for Wharfedale, writes Keith Lewis.

It was another disappointment for the Threshfield outfit who now find themselves in unfamiliar territory - at the bottom of a league table for the first time in their illustrious 12-year league history. It is still early days of course and Wharfedale's director of rugby Michael Harrison spoke confidently after the game, saying: "There is very little room for error at this level but that was a much better performance and the important first win will not be long coming."

The loss of scrum-half David Whitfield with a shoulder injury after only 10 minutes was fairly significant. Well though his stylish replacement Graham Smith played Whitfield's physical presence as an extra back row forward would probably have helped in the second half when Morley had their tails up. The inclusion of Hayes and centre Mick Harrison gave the Wharfedale back division a more decisive look than of late and produced two absolutely superb tries early in the game. There were still some hiccups as individuals lost possession and missed tackles but as the game progressed these became secondary to the main source of embarrassment - the scrummaging power of the Morley forwards led by flanker Simon Smith and boosted by the arrival of 6ft 6in Paul Stewart, the former Wakefield, Yorkshire and North Division lock, who was introduced as a replacement at half-time.

The Dalesmen started the game with five changes to the previous week's line-up. Whitfield came in for Dan Harrison, who was unavailable, and with Jonathan Davies still resting the leg injury which caused him to miss the second half of the Henley game in came Mick Harrison to partner his brother Glen in the centre.

Neil Heseltine was preferred on the wing and with Charlie Vyvyan having a mandatory absence following concussion John Hartley started in the back row. All Wharfedale eyes though were no doubt on their new recruit in the No 10 shirt, looking typically antipodean in protective headgear.

They did not have long to wait for the first encouraging signs. The game was only two minutes old when following drives by prop Richard Lancaster and No 8 Paul Evans Hayes released his back division and fullback Andy Hodgson burst through to send Heseltine flying over in the corner. Winger Adam Mounsey converted and then landed a penalty to make it 10-0 after four minutes following good work by Greens' lock David Lister and open-side Hedley Verity.

Hayes continued to kick comfortably out of hand from inside his own half and although the Morley pack sent a couple of shock waves through the Wharfedale camp by taking two strikes against the head the Greens gained territory again through the interpassing skills of hooker John Lawn, Verity, Lister and Evans and the deft boot of Hayes. With 20 minutes gone Mounsey latched on to a splendid break by Mick Harrison before pushing away two maroon shirts and going outside to touch down in the corner. The conversion made him the fourth highest scorer in the league this season with a total of 29 points from three games.

Wharfedale were unlucky not to extend their lead to 24 points on the half hour when following another spectacular cross-field move by the backs Heseltine tore away in the clear once more only to be recalled by the referee. From the penalty, presumably awarded for crossing in a dummy scissors the Morley pack gained a position in the Greens' '22' and flanker David Hopton powered over for his side's first points. Morley's fly-half Tom Bamber converted to make it 17-7 at half-time.

With replacements in their pack Morley notched up two tries soon after the interval to lead 19-17. Firstly Bamber sliced through from 30 metres to go in by the posts and added the conversion and then his half-back partner Jeremy Tiffin nipped over from a five-metre scrum after 50 minutes. The Dalesmen were clearly shell-shocked after surrendering their 17-point lead and introduced Craig Ingram and Sam Allen to the pack as well as bringing on Ben Whitfield for a well-deserved appearance in place of the then limping midfield maestro "Mick Harry".

As much as Hayes prompted and Lawn, Lister, Evans, Allen and Verity drove forward there was no denying Morley in the later stages and they put the result beyond doubt with a close-range try by replacement Mark Sales and a conversion and penalty by their own New Zealand import, Bamber.

Former England star David Pears makes his debut for Wharfedale this Saturday.

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