Tenacious Greens earn their revenge

Twice in that exciting finale Blackheath looked set to earn victory. Full-back Alan Armstrong’s long penalty attempt dropped short and then a brave penalty decision by referee Andrew Jackson relieved the pressure of a scrum on the home line.

It was a priceless win follwoing the previous week’s defeat for Wharfedale.

The Greens controlled large periods of creative play and despite never quite playing with conviction, twice opened significant leads to go into the break at 23-13 and claim a 31-23 advantage just short of the hour.

But they could never shake themselves free of dogged opponents, whose strength at the scrum and confident execution of exemplary maul play kept them in contention throughout the contest, brought them two of their four tries and secured two bonus points as a deserved reward for their committed effort.

Full-back Armstrong secured an early penalty for Blackheath before departing with fifth-minute yellow card, but the visitors made light of this misfortune by creating a fine overlap finish for winger Mike Canty followed by a try by Dave Allen from a lineout maul on the way to a 13-3 lead.

Wharfedale, recovering from a hesitant beginning, ate away at this lead with three well-struck- penalties from Tom Davidson before more fluent expansive play near the end of the half produced a try for Tom McGee set up by a fine break by Will Bell and then a second converted try by Steve Graham to put them clear.

Blackheath took a second half lead through Armstrong’s penalty and a charge-down converted try by Jack Walsh only for Wharfedale to recover through a snap drop goal from replacement Tom Barrett’s first touch of the ball and pull further ahead with Simon Horsfall fine weaving through for a try converted by Davidson.

This was a match where both side played better when behind and a second try by Allen, inevitability from the back of another excellently executed maul, brought Blackheath a bonus point.

Wharfedale, hit by lock Brown’s final quarter sin-binning, roused themselves to secure revenge for defeat in the away encounter.