Esher 47, Wharfedale 12

Despite the margin of defeat, this was a very good National League One performance yesterday by a Wharfedale side depleted by absentees and injury.

Already expecting to face the leaders without the services of key players in full back Andy Hodgson and locks Alastair Allen and Oliver Renton (personal commitments entered into when February 6 was listed as a blank day), they were further hit by late call-offs by fly half Mark Bedworth (unwell) and hooker Gavin Hindle (injured in the warm-up).

However, the re-jigged side – Iain Dixon moving to full back, Luke Gray to fly half and Martin Chivers playing the full match at hooker – acquitted themselves with considerable honour.

While Esher’s overall superiority could not be questioned, a closer outcome would certainly not have flattered their visitors.

Esher began in flamboyant style, incisive running bringing three converted tries within the opening 15 minutes.

Hot-shot goal-kicker Sam Ulph converted the scores of centre Seb Jewell and No 8 Shawn Rennick before adding the extras to his own touchdown.

Having absorbed those setbacks, the Greens showed they too could attack with menace.

Gray’s lofted kick towards the corner was gathered by Simon Horsfall in the 21st minute, the winger rounding a defender to finish close to the posts, Gray completing what he had started with the conversion.

Ulph scored and converted his second try ten minutes later but in the 35th minute, Dixon – probably Wharfedale’s most influential player on the day – responded with a fine individual try.

He broke from the halfway line, kicked on and collected again before going over in the corner.

Down 28-12, the Greens began the second half strongly, pegging the home side back for a ten-minute spell of concerted pressure.

The defence held, however, and once Esher had raised the mini siege, they set about consolidating their victory with clinical professionalism.

Not, now, in the mood for ‘running everything’, they concentrated on sheer forward power as the gallant visitors tired.

Tries from scrum half Darrick Cowley (53 minutes), lock Rod Turner and Rennick (plus two conversions) marked another stage on their march to the Championship.

Esher: N Hallett; S Ulph, N Taylor, S Jewell, J Hylton; D Slemen, D Cowley; T Tunnicliffe, K Corrigan, T Warren, R Anderson, R Turner, L Starling, S Stitcher, S Rennick.

Wharfedale: I Dixon (M Simpson 74); S Horsfall, J Tincknell, C Malherbe, D Hall; L Gray, S Cottrell (D Matthews 70); A Mason, M Chivers, C Steel (N Dickinson 59), J Mason (T Wareing 72), R Brown, L Maka’afi, D Solomi, R Baldwin.

Referee: Paul Knowles