WHARFEDALE may not have gained a bonus point out of their 17-7 SSE National League One defeat at Blackheath last Saturday but they did come out of the match with pride intact and a national call-up.
Centre Cameron Hudson, who was the stand-out back for the Greens, has been asked to train with Scotland under-20s prior to their RBS Six Nations Championship, which starts in France a week tomorrow.
"To say that he is only 19, it is incredible that he can match Blackheath physically," said Wharfedale's coach Jon Feeley. "His Scotland call-up is fully deserved, and it was our wider backs that were more of an issue."
Feeley preferred not to comment fully on the penalty-try ruling that cost his team seven points and probably at least a bonus point.
He revealed: "If I said what I really thought, I would be in trouble, so I prefer not to say anything", but he was proud of the efforts of his pack.
Feeley added: "Blackheath have only been turned over at home by Blaydon and Coventry so far this season, and the fact that we matched Blackheath up front was excellent. Their forwards didn't make a single clean break in the whole match."
Feeley was also delighted with the effort of full back Lloyd Davies, saying: "Lloyd has been asked to play full back after the injury to Taylor Prell and he has been more than adequate. He has a big boot on him and his kicking has been excellent."
With Jack Barnard being involved with Yorkshire Carnegie, patience has proved a virtue for flanker James Tyson.
Feeley said: "He was our man of the match at Blackheath, and I am happy for him because he has had to wait for his chance since pre-season, having been out of the game for two years."
Tenth-placed Wharfedale are at home tomorrow to third-placed Rosslyn Park, who have won eight of their ten away matches this season, losing only to Fylde and Blackheath.
Feeley describes Park as "more powerful than Blackheath in the forwards and faster in the backs".
To meet that challenge, the selectors have recalled lock Simon Willet to the bench.
His recovery from a shoulder injury last autumn has been set back by a car accident, and joining him as a replacement are Barnard and Ian Larkin, who is returning from injury.
Prop Matt Beesley starts, while in the backs, Taylor Prell is named subject to a fitness test, cover being provided by his brother Josh.
Wharfedale (home to Rosslyn Park): T Prell; L Davies, C Hudson, T Davidson, O Cicognini; J Guy, J Doherty; M Beesley, D Stockdale, J Armstrong, A Howard, A Powell, J Tyson, J Burridge, D Solomi. Replacements (from): J Altham, I Larkin, S Willet, J Barnard, J Prell, H Bullough.
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