Wharfedale 31, Cambridge 20

Wharfedale deservedly secured a fourth successive bonus-point victory in a lively and enthusiastically fought match thgis afternoon, cementing their hold on fifth place in the National League One table.

Cambridge played their part in the entertainment, forcing the Greens on the defensive for lengthy periods.

But the visitors lacked the penetration needed to capitalise on a full share of the possession.

Neither coach will be happy about tries conceded as a direct result of first-half errors.

Fumbled ball by Cambridge let in first home flanker Dan Solomi, sprinting under the posts from 30 metres out in the 19th minute, and later centre James Tincknell, who gleefully added to his tenth-minute opener with an unstoppable dash from halfway in the 39th minute.

A minute later the horror show had moved to the other end, centre Chris Malherbe presenting a simple intercept chance to Cambridge winger Tom Wheatcroft.

But it all added to the fun, and there was much genuine enterprise from both sides to enjoy.

The opening exchanges saw chances at both ends, but it was the Dalesmen who got under way first, Tincknell starting and finishing a flowing move.

Then came Solomi’s score. Luke Gray converted both tries, putting the home side 14-0 ahead.

Cambridge fought back well, a Tom Wheatcroft penalty in the 25th minute, and a driven try, claimed by hooker Stewart Pearle three minutes later preceded the exchange of gifts that meant the half-time score was 19-13.

By the end of the third quarter, Wharfedale had built a commanding 31-13 advantage.

Malherbe atoned for his first-half aberration, interpassing neatly with flanker Latu Maka’afi before touching down in the 46th minute.

Full back Andy Hodgson, back from injury, launched the best move of the game with his centrefield break, before slipping to Philip Woodhead, the scrum half sending winger Simon Horsfall clear to the corner a minute before the hour. Gray converted in style.

The bulk of the final quarter was played out in the home half as Cambridge doggedly sought some reward from the game.

But grim defence – twice holding up pack surges over the line – and lack of a vital cutting edge limited the visitors to a converted try by centre Alex Dodge.

Wharfedale: A Hodgson; I Dixon (D Hall 59), J Tincknell, C Malherbe, S Horsfall; L Gray, P Woodhead (D Matthews 68); A Mason (N Dickinson 16), M Chivers (G Hindle 65), C Steel, O Renton (R Brown 55), R Rhodes, L Maka’afi, D Solomi, R Baldwin.

Cambridge: A Barnard (J Schmidt 41); T Wheatcroft, T Berridge, A Dodge, W Martin; L Cole (G White 49), D Hunter; A Brown (R Reeves 49), S Pearle (B Hunter 63), B Cooper, K Rudzki, D Legge, G McComb, D Fox, D Archer (M Edison 38).

Referee: Steve Lee