Esher 47 Wharfedale 12: Weakened Greens show spirit to test the leaders

Despite the margin of defeat, this was a very good performance by a weakened Wharfedale side.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Feb 2010, 08:47 BST
Updated 8th Feb 2010, 08:47 BST

Already expecting to face the league leaders without the services of full-back Andy Hodgson and locks Alastair Allen and Oliver Renton, who made personal commitments for what was originally a 'blank' day, they were further hit by late call-offs by stand-off Mark Bedworth (ill) and hooker Gavin Hindle, who was injured in the warm-up.

Iain Dixon moved to full-back, Luke Gray to stand-off and Martin Chivers to hooker and they acquitted themselves well.

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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. Sam Ulph converted the scores of centre Seb Jewell and No 8 Shawn Rennick before adding the extras to his own touch-down.

The Greens showed they too could attack with menace. Gray's lofted kick towards the corner was gathered by Simon Horsfall, the winger rounding a defender to finish close to the posts, with Gray converting.

Ulph scored and converted his second try but Dixon – probably Wharfedale's most influential player on the day – responded with a fine individual try. He broke from the halfway line, kicking on and collecting before going over in the corner.

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The Greens began the second half strongly but once Esher had lifted the siege, they set about consolidating their victory with clinical professionalism.

Tries from scrum-half Darrick Cowley, lock Rod Turner and Rennick, who added two conversions, took them closer to the Championship title.

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: P Knowles.