HAVING faced the top two in SSE National League One in successive weeks, Wharfedale are digesting the lessons learnt before bidding to make amends for their lowest point of the season so far.

The Greens followed up a 78-12 mauling at leaders Ealing Trailfinders with a 17-13 defeat to Coventry at the Avenue last Saturday and, while there was no lack of effort from the players, there were some technical aspects that both they and coach Jon Feeley recognised.

“We have kept this in house so far but the players had a meeting after the Ealing match and felt that, although pride was not an issue, there were some technical aspects that they felt they could improve upon,” revealed Feeley.

“We didn’t have the ball long enough to make handling errors against Ealing but the players were very disappointed afterwards that they hadn’t beaten Coventry.”

Feeley added that there was no question of kicking the goals rather than going for the tries, and said: “Dan Solomi got the ball over the line twice and we didn’t feel that some decisions went our way.

“Also people sometimes forget the bigger picture – that we are facing a professional outfit whose ambition is to play in the division above – and 90 per cent of the match was played in that bottom third.”

The Greens haven’t picked up any injuries but one pick-up they hope to make is Dan Stockdale from Heathrow Airport after a skiing holiday.

Saturday hosts Blackheath, who are fifth compared to unchanged Wharfedale’s tenth, proved adept at the driven line-out and the rolling maul in winning 52-12 at The Avenue in late October in a display that still jars with Feeley and his players.

“That was probably the lowest point of our season so far and our poorest performance,” said Feeley.

“But at least we know how they are going to play and that their No 8 Dave Allen is one of the best players in the division.”

Wharfedale (at Blackheath): L Davies; J Prell, C Hudson, T Davidson, O Cicognini; J Guy, J Doherty; J Altham, D Stockdale, J Armstrong, A Howard, A Powell, J Tyson, J Burridge, D Solomi. Replacements: M Beesley, C Steel, T Baines, N Myers, H Bullough.