Wharfedale 27, Tynedale 10

At the sixth time of asking in National One, Wharfedale at last beat their bogey team – and they did it in exhilarating style.

The wonder was that the margin was just 17 points, Wharfedale having dominated the game.

One man has to be singled out in what was an excellent team performance – Greens skipper Rob Baldwin.

The No 8 inspired his side to an invaluable five-point victory after five straight league defeats.

If Wharfedale’s finishing had matched their slick, adventurous approach play, the result would have been settled by half-time.

As it was, missed chances combined with tigerish defence by Tyne left the score at a tenuous 10-3 at the interval.

Tries by scrum half Philip Woodhead – a 30-metre break for the left corner (14 minutes) – and winger James Druce (20 minutes) were scant return on Dale pressure.

Tyne opened their account in what was their first serious venture into the home half with a last-action penalty by stand-off Gavin Beasley.

Hooker Steve Graham’s try after 45 minutes, converted by stand-off Tom Barrett, after lock Talite Vaioleti had won the ball on the Tyne 22, looked to be the prelude to a rush of home points.

But it was Tynedale that scored next – left winger Alan Rogers finishing off a well-worked move with 11 minutes to go. With Beasley’s conversion, the visitors were suddenly (and surprisingly) in bonus-point territory at 17-10.

Enter, in the 70th minute, substitute centre Tom Davidson for a remarkable cameo. His superb 52-metre penalty (75 minutes), plus a try soon afterwards – the bonus-clinching chance made by Baldwin’s powerful surge to claim the ball – and conversion made for a fairer final scoreline.