Derby double for Greens

Having won 23-12 at Scatcherd Lane back in September Wharfedale made a whirlwind start in the return fixture, throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at Morley in the first 20 minutes to race into a 19-0 lead, writes Keith Lewis.

It virtually ended the game as a contest and the Greens went on to record a rare league double over their Yorkshire neighbours.

With the division's promotion and relegation system still unannounced there was plenty for both sides to play for in this local derby. The protracted negotiations going on betwen Premiership club owners, the RFU and the organisers of the European competitions have various implications for teams at this level including the possibility of no relegation if the top two divisions decide to increase their numbers next season.

That particular scenario is now of more interest to Morley than Wharfedale because by winning the Dalesmen secured their own national league status and left Morley grasping for lifelines at the bottom of the table with only four games remaining. Ironically on this occasion it was a former Morley player, Wharfedale's Adam Mounsey, who did the damage, landing 19 points with a flawless kicking display to turn Wharfedale's dominance into points.

The Dalesmen made two changes to the team which lost by two points at Nottingham the previous week. David Lister returned to the pack after injury and Craig Walker was available again to line up in the centre alongside ever-present Jonathan Davies. Morley, having recruited widely in an attempt to revive their flagging fortunes, started with only four of the side which played against the Greens in September and included their 6ft 4inch former Bristol centre Peter Naivalurua and their more familiar captain, former Hull Ionians' No 8 Simon Smith.

Desperately in need of a win Morley were cleared psyched up at the start but their lack of discipline in crucial areas lost them any early advantage their adrenalin rush may have given them. Their front row were judged to have collapsed the very first scrum of the game giving Mounsey the chance to open his account, and when Smith followed a high tackle on Wharfedale prop John Metcalfe with a similar effort on flanker Hedley Verity Mounsey chipped over his second penalty.

The Greens kept the pressure on by moving the ball confidently without over-elaboration, ensuring that possession was retained in the tackle. By contrast the visitors continued to huff and puff as they tried to get into the game, being penalised for piling over the top in the loose and eventually giving Mounsey the chance to make it 9-0 after failing to retire the required 10 metres.

Wharfedale scrum-half David Whitfield was at the centre of most of the action, providing unselfish service but always looking to exploit any half-chance which came his way. Such an opportunity presented itself in the 15th minute when Verity powered towards the Morley line and when the ball broke loose there was Whitfield, picking up and darting over for his third try in seven outings for the Greens. Did anyone in the Morley camp recognise "Witters" as the five-year-old who started out in their mini section 20 years ago?

Mounsey's conversion made it 22-0 and as the visitors closed down very quickly on Wharfedale's attempts to move the ball wide the game became more and more forward oriented. This suited the Dalesmen as they had a clear edge in that department with the back row of Paul Evans, Charlie Vyvyan and Verity working their socks off and lock Lister excelling as usual in the lineouts. Neil Dickinson was also an asset in the loose and his former front row colleagues enjoyed a rare old tussle with Richard Szabo and friends.

Wharfedale conceded penalties for offsides either side of the interval giving Morley winger Adam Standevan the chance to make it 22-6, but the game virtually fizzled out as a spectacle from then on as Morley seemed to be content with keeping the scoreline respectable and Wharfedale remained uncharacteristically low risk. There were a few unsavoury moments and Greens' winger Steve McManus was unfortunate to be on the receiving end of several unpleasant challenges as the game meandered towards its conclusion.

Wharfedale continued to put the Morley line under considerable pressure with a series of close-range scrums and lineouts, but with five minutes left visiting winger Chris Armitage escaped down the touchline to send fullback Ian Tullock in for a try by the posts. Standevan's conversion reduced the deficit to nine points.

The Greens' pack reacted with one final effort and justice was done in the last minute when the referee awarded a penalty try after Morley had pulled down a line-bound rolling maul. Mounsey converted to take himself past 250 points for the season.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Wharfedale visit London Welsh at Old Deer Park, looking perhaps to repeat last season's 25-16 victory. It will be tough of course because London Welsh are currently lying third, looking for a promotion place along with Worcester and Leeds.

Supporters travelling south should follow the North Circular A406 west from the bottom of the M1. At Hanger Lane follow the signs to the A205 Kew Bridge. At Kew Bridge Station bear left and cross Kew Bridge. Bear right at the traffic-lights onto the A307 Richmond and the ground is about one mile on the right-hand side.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.