Wharfedale 23 Rosslyn Park 30: Defiant rally salvages bonus for Greens after Park run riot in devastating spell

Throughout much of the first half of a keenly-contested match, Wharfedale seemed to have the measure of their in-form opponents. By the final whistle, however, the Greens were glad enough to settle for a losing bonus point.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Dec 2010, 09:46 BST
Updated 13th Dec 2010, 09:46 BST

Trailing 30-13 with just seven minutes remaining, the Greens' chances of gaining anything from the match seemed remote. Park had dominated the second half, and their powerful running at a hesitant defence regularly threatened further scores. Things had looked very different in the first half. The Dalesmen opened the scoring in the second minute through a massive drop-goal from fly-half Tom Davidson and, though Park hit back with a Ross Laidlaw penalty (11), the home side surged into a well-deserved 13-3 lead.

Riding the disappointment of a disallowed try for winger Simon Horsfall they continued to attack, and were rewarded by a Davidson penalty (23) and a converted try from hooker Ian Larkin following scrum-half Philip Woodhead's telling break. Park responded when Mark Lock burst through for a try, converted by Laidlaw.

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The Greens lost No 8 Talite Vaioletti to a yellow card (37), and his departure proved costly. By the time the Tongan international returned the visitors had added 10 points and stretched their advantage with a try from winger John Rudd, Laidlaw adding the conversion, and a penalty.

Wharefdale roused themselves with a push-over try claimed by flanker Dan Solomi, converted f by Davidson, who then kicked a 42-metre penalty.