Wharfedale 124, Manchester 5

With opponents manifestly out of their depth in National League One, the result of this match, if not the margin, was virtually guaranteed before referee Matthew Daubney had blown his whistle yesterday.

Wharfedale did all that could be expected in the circumstances, and put a game but outclassed Manchester to a 20-try sword.

The visitors, however, earned admiration and support from the crowd for gamely refusing to let their heads drop.

Their solitary try, well taken by scrum half Danny Carlton, was greeted by warm applause from all parts of the ground.

Other than that all-too-brief respite, it was one-way traffic for almost the whole of the remainder of the game.

Little can be read into this result, of course, in terms of the Greens’ future fortunes. But, for now, they can hardly be less than satisfied with a four-victory start to the campaign, and second place in the table.

As for individual performances in a game that allowed free and adventurous expression throughout the team, the massively impressive Tongan flanker Latu Maka’afi stood out.

Virtually unstoppable when on the charge, he opened the scoring in the second minute with a solo sprint from halfway, and went on to claim a total of four tries.

Winger Ian Culligan, on his maiden first-team appearance, seized his chance with both hands – and feet – speeding his way to a second-half hat-trick.

Twelve tries came after the interval, as Manchester, who had managed only three substitutes for their squad, wilted visibly.

Other tries for the Dalesmen were from centre (and captain, in Rob Baldwin’s absence) Chris Malherbe (3), full back Andy Hodgson (2), lock Alastair Allen (2), substitute prop Neal Clarke (2), substitute winger Ian Dixon, centre Mark Bedworth, flanker Dan Solomi and fly half Joe Ford.

Ford made five first-half conversions, with Bedworth adding seven after the break when Ford gave way to Luke Gray at No 10.

Wharfedale: A Hodgson; D Hall (I Dixon 45), C Malherbe, M Bedworth, I Culligan; J Ford (L Gray 40), D Matthews; A Mason, S Graham (D Charnley 51), M Chivers (N Clarke 51), J Mason, A Allen (R Brown 48), L Maka’afi, D Solomi, T Ball.

Manchester: R Wellock; O Lucas (S Davis 2), M Rockey (H Noar 53), L Haidinger, M Hall; G Taylor, D Carlton; K Stock, J Gould, S Prest, M Walker-Fitton, J Doney, F Collyer-Bristow, Z Hammond, C Harriman.

Referee: Matthew Daubney.