REPORT BY: JOHN UTLEY

ON Saturday Wharfedale travelled to Otley on the back of three good wins, but with a much-changed side.

From the kick off Otley gained possession, retained the ball through good handling, and scored a try in the left-hand corner through Sam Waddington.

A difficult conversion was made by Joe Rowntree to make the score 7-0 in favour of the hosts.

After the early setback, Wharfedale got into the game and a good break by Joe Fawcett resulted in the forwards camped on the Otley line resulting in a penalty which Ryan Hodgson converted to make it 7-3 to the hosts.

From the kick-off Wharfedale gained possession and made good progress into the Otley half only to have a pass intercepted and Callum Irvine ran the ball under the posts for a try which Rowntree converted. 14-3.

Wharfedale roared back with repeated attacks and penalties at the Otley line and were rewarded with a try by Sam Dickinson, converted by Hodgson to make it 14-10.

In the 25th minute Wharfedale were caught on the counter-attack by Otley who hand men on the overlap and Edward Crossland crossed the line for a try which was converted by Rowntree to make it 21-10.

Following some good possession Wharfedale lost the ball, and a high tackle resulted in a penalty out wide on the left which was converted by Rowntree. 24-10.

In Wharfdale’s best spell of the match, Otley received two yellow cards and Josh Pell squeezed under the posts for a try which Hodgson converted to make the score at half-time 24-17

Almost immediately from the kick off Otley with 13 men regained the ball and after a good passage of play scored a try out on the right through Jacob Holmes which was converted by Calum Irvine to make it 31-17.

Back to 15 men, the hosts dominated possession and scored a try through Samuel Taylor, duly converted by Callum Irvine. 38-17.

Back came Wharfedale with a series of pick and goes for Sam Dickinson to score his second try under the post which Hodgson converted to make it 38-24 in favour of the home team.

The visitors introduced some fresh legs from the bench and were immediately rewarded when the ball squirted out of a scrum in the Otley red zone and Oliver Riddiough darted over the line for his team’s fourth try, converted by Hodgson to make it 38-31.

In the final ten minutes of the game Otley were awarded two penalties which Calum Irvine converted to make the final score 44-31.

Speaking after the match, Dale head coach Simon Verbickas was full of praise for his inexperienced team.

He said: “With more changes in the squad for the third game in a row and players stepping again into unfamiliar positions, we played with heart, determination and a huge sense of pride.

“Although we did not secure the victory, to come away from Otley with a four-try bonus point speaks volumes about the character and resilience of the squad.”