Wharfedale triumph but supporters are again put through the mill

Victory in this SSE National League One match was vital if Wharfedale were to retain hope of avoiding relegation.

At half-time, leading 16-0 and dominant, they seemed to have the result sealed.

But Richmond, outplayed in the first half, were a different side after the break and Greens fans in the large crowd – another season’s best at 833 – had to endure much nerve-jangling before the relief of the final whistle.

Fly half Tom Barrett, whose 15 points from the boot were crucial to the outcome, set the scoreboard moving with a towering third-minute penalty from twometres inside the Wharfedale half.

He added a drop goal in the 15th minute and then converted a mauled score, claimed by hooker Ian Larkin, just two minutes later.

A second Barrett penalty in the 24th minute,concurrent with a yellow card for visiting winger Will Browne, completed the first-half scoring, though when Richmond full back Tom Platt had a penalty rebound from a post, setting up an intense, if brief, period of pressure on the home line, the Dalesmen might have detected a warning sign. Richmond clearly had no plans for a meek surrender!

A hectic second half saw two early converted tries – Richmond No 8 Harrison Edwards in the 45th minute, swiftly followed by winger Lloyd Davies for the Greens.

Browne, in the 55th minute, and lock Will Warden six minutes later crossed for the visitors – the latter score being converted – to narrow the margin to 23-19 and set up an anxious final quarter for the Greens.

A mauled try by replacement hooker Steve Graham in the 66th minute, converted by Barrett, gave the home side breathing space.

But Richmond responded in kind through Browne, converted by Platt, in the 76th minute to ensure high tension to the final whistle.

Macclesfield’s somewhat surprising draw at Blaydon in their penultimate game leaves the Cheshire club equal on points with Wharfedale, but a place higher having won more matches.

The Greens’ game-in-hand – they go to Cambridge next week and then entertain Coventry – is looking ever-more critical.

Wharfedale: A Whaites; L Davies, J Donkin, L Gray, S Horsfall; T Barrett, J Gough (P Woodhead 56); C Steel, I Larkin (S Graham 56), M Tampin (N Dickinson 77), A Howard (J Mason 73), R Rhodes, T Wareing, A Myers, R Brown.