REPORT BY: GORDON BROWN

A substantial Friday evening crowd had assembled in anticipation of another classic encounter between Leeds Tykes and Wharfedale last week.

These two sides from different sides of the tracks, had served up such tension and entertainment in their two matches last season. The contest was between a professional side aiming for promotion, and a side containing fourteen home-grown players in their squad of twenty.

Conditions were perfect, with not a breath of wind to spoil the perfect columns of steam rising vertically from the assembled packs into the cold night air.

Having drawn level with Wharfedale’s opening try, it took the Tykes until the 20th minute to work out how to beat the Green Machine, who by this stage had already lost Jack Pinder with what looked like a nasty ankle injury, and the penalty count was already mounting up.

Leeds had been given a shock in the fifth minute when Wharfedale’s stand-in stand-off Oli Cicognini – who was to be a thorn in their side throughout the match – made a sublime break, fed the ball to Tom Darwin on his shoulder, who handed it on to Harry Bullough for the opening try.

Leeds soon equalised when their latest recruit Charlie Hudson exploited a huge overlap on the right to stroll in at the corner. That try was unconverted, but in fairness the kick was a great deal more difficult than the one Wharfedale had missed.

The rising penalty count had led to two Leeds tries before half-time. A touch kick of no distinction at all led to a lineout, but distance was no impediment to the strong home pack, and a drive of more than 20 metres led to a try by prop Tobias Williams.

After more penalties the same feat was repeated, this time finished by no 8 Matt Burke. Both were converted by fly-half Seremaia Turagabeci for a half-time score of 19-5.

The second half began with sustained pressure from the Greens, taking them deep into home territory but without making any telling breaks, but ended with the concession of a penalty close to the line.

A quick tap and a lightning break to the half-way line by centre Venables, a kick ahead and a foot race followed by a fly-hack led to a second try by the mobile Williams, converted for a 26-5 lead.

But Wharfedale were not finished, and a sublime grubber by Cicogini put the flying Harry Bullough in for his second try, converted by Ryan Hodgson.

By now the physically dominant Leeds forwards had begun to break tackles, only determination by the brave but physically slighter Wharfedale cover preventing more scores, until the 71st minute when a telegraphed pass was intercepted on the halfway line by Venables for a stroll in under the posts, and a comfortable bonus-point 33-12 win.