Frustration as Club edged out in the Dales (From News Shopper)

Frustration as Club edged out in the Dales

7:27pm Sunday 15th January 2012 in Rugby By Graham Cox

Wharfedale 31 Blackheath 30.

A creditable but deeply frustrating Saturday afternoon high up in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, as Blackheath found themselves on the wrong side of the narrowest of margins.

In the end, however, and despite outscoring their hosts by four tries to three, even the most diehard of Club supporters would have to concede the outcome was determined by a moment of brilliance.

Simon Horsfall has been one of Wharfedale’s best players in recent years, and his dummy to send half the Blackheath defence in the wrong direction on 66 minutes opened up acres of space for the left-wing to cross for a converted try and an eight-point advantage.

It left the Club requiring two scores, and although Dave Allen was driven over for the flanker’s second try of the match soon after, the visitors were unable change the outcome.

And all after Blackheath had taken the early initiative. Club full-back Adam Armstrong and Greens’ centre Tom Davidson exchanged penalties, but good work from the Club pack opened up space on the right wing for Mike Canty to go over, before Allen was mauled across for his first effort and a 13-3 lead.

But if Blackheath had the best of the forward exchanges, out wide it was a different matter. The Greens’ back-line kept piercing the visitors’ defence, and tries for front-rowers Thomas McGee and Steve Graham, added to another eight points from the boot of Davidson gave the Dalesmen a sizable 21-13 advantage at the break.

Blackheath, however, began the second period as positively as they had the first and a second Armstrong penalty and a try for Jack Walsh after the scrum-half charged-down a defensive kick briefly put the visitors in front.

But fly-half Tom Barrett wobbled over a drop-goal to nudge the hosts ahead once more, before Horsfall added enough daylight to ultimately make the game safe. Next Saturday Blackheath return to Rectory Field to take on Stourbridge in SSE National League One, kick-off 3.00 pm, and on Sunday the Club face Aylesford in the Second Round of the Kent Cup in a 2.00 pm start.

Wharfedale Tries: McGee, Graham, Horsfall Conv: Davidson 2 Pens: Davidson 3 DG: Barrett.

Blackheath Tries: Canty, Allen 2, Walsh Conv: Armstrong, Windsor (Sam) Pens: Armstrong 2.