Wharfedale 28, Blaydon 22

Apparently coasting at 25-3 ahead at half-time, Wharfedale were ultimately clinging on desperately as Blaydon, their pack simply dominating the setpieces, surged back in this afternoon's National League One clash at The Avenue.

In retrospect, the warning signs had been posted in the first half, even as the Greens built the conclusive-looking lead.

Decent possession – indeed much possession at all – from their own line-outs was already scarce, and all three tries, well-taken though they were, resulted from initial errors on the part of the visitors.

It was as well for the Dalesmen that Mark Bedworth had remembered his kicking boots. The fly half’s 13 points proved vital.

Bedworth began the Greens’ first-half scoring binge with a brace of early penalties (third and 14th minutes) – the first from 47 metres.

And centre James Tincknell grabbed a fumbled ball on the halfway line to sprint clear to the posts in the 19th minute, leaving a straightforward conversion.

It was Tincknell again crossing in the 32nd minute after Bedworth had combined with flanker Latu Maka’afi to carve the opening. Tincknell was also involved in the third try, interpassing with winger Iain Dixon before the latter provided the scoring pass for centre Chris Malherbe, Bedworth slotting his second conversion.

In the meantime, all Blaydon had to show was a penalty in the 21st minute from former Wharfedale centre Andy Baggett.

It seemed all too easy. Greens fans were savouring the prospect of a second successive big home victory.

But what a different spectacle the second half turned out! Apart from a brief respite, when Bedworth cleared a 38-metre penalty in the 59th minute, the Greens were forced on the defensive.

Now it was the home side’s errors that threatened to be decisive as line-outs and scrums were lost to the rampaging Blaydon pack with monotonous regularity.

Scores just had to come but by dint of sheer bloody-minded determination, the Dalesmen did just enough to preserve the win.

Tries by lock Chris Wearmouth (50th minute), winger Scott Riddell (69th minute) and hooker Matt Hall (78th minute), plus two Baggett conversions, left Blaydon a single score short – and no doubt cursing their first-half profligacy.

Wharfedale: L Gray; I Dixon, C Malherbe, J Tincknell, S Horsfall; M Bedworth, S Cottrell (P Woodhead 72); M Chivers (N Dickinson 64), G Hindle (S Graham 62), C Steel, O Renton, A Allen (R Brown 67), L Maka’afi, D Solomi, R Baldwin (R Rhodes 57).

Blaydon: A Dehaty; S Riddell, P Dias, A Baggett, K McShane; E O’Brien, T Rock; R Kalbraier, M Hall, J Clarke (S Trethewey 48), C Wearmouth, A Archibald (M Green 69), K Laughlin (J Smithson 67), M Wilson, G Jones.

Referee: Darren Gamage