Wharfedale 10 London Scottish 18: Greens miss their chance

WHARFEDALE failed to hold on to a 10-6 lead established midway through the second half against a Scottish side whose flanker, Oliver Brown, had been red-carded in the 37th minute following a fracas close to the home line.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Feb 2010, 10:15 BST
Updated 15th Feb 2010, 10:15 BST

Wharfedale had scored two unconverted tries, but the Scots had relied on full-back Frank Neale's penalties to keep them in the game.

In the 67th minute, however, the teams were brought back to parity when Greens flanker Latu Maka'afi was sin-binned.

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His departure signalled a spirited fight-back by the visitors, winger David Howells claiming a brace of fine tries, the second converted by stand-off James Brown, before Maka'afi returned for the hectic closing minutes.

The best chance the Greens had to reply was lost by a dropped ball when the pack was over the line following a 20-metre maul.

Wharfedale No 8 Rob Baldwin had also been yellow-carded on 26 minutes. They had made light of the captain's absence, adding a try by prop Adam Mason to the 14th-minute opener which Chris Malherbe had scored after a crashing break by fellow centre James Tincknell.

Mason's touch-down was created by a finely judged cross-kick by stand-off Mark Bedworth that split open the defence.

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Though Bedworth was off-song when firing at the posts, his touch-kicking was exemplary but the Greens were rarely in a position to capitalise.

They were desperately unlucky late in the first half when referee Andy Taylorson failed to allow advantage for a forward pass by Scottish with Tincknell clear.