National League Two North: Wharfedale 27 Otley 17

THERE was some debate afterwards as to whether Wharfedale should have gone for a fourth try and a bonus point with the last attack of the game rather than booting the ball off the pitch to signal referee Luke Haskins' final whistle.

But the general emotions for the Green Machine supporters were relief and joy as they notched a victory over derby rivals Otley to again move out of the relegation places.

The visitors, who won 39-27 at Cross Green in September, were in the contest for all but the final five minutes, but have now only triumphed in one of their nine away matches this season, though they are still 13 points and three places better off than the Dalesmen.

"I am delighted," said Wharfedale's coach James Doherty. "We gave one of our most complete performances, the players responded and I was really happy with the first half.

"We felt that we could move them around the park by playing the phases, and we were in control in the second half.

"Our half-backs Phil Woodhead and Jamie Guy were excellent, and Phil just shaded it for man of the match.

"He is just coming back from injury, although you wouldn't have known it, while Jamie is also and has been playing more at 12 than ten this season.

"We also went well in the set-piece, with all of the front row doing well, James Huck and Ian Larkin coming off the bench to replace Toms Asejevs and Dan Stockdale."

Prop Joe Altham played for the full 80 minutes for the Greens, as did hooker Luke Chadwick and prop Adam Blades for Otley in a good day for front-row continuity.

Otley's director of rugby Peter Clegg said: "We lacked experience at seven, eight, nine and ten, which are key decision-making positions, but Wharfedale deserved to win.

"We are still doing okay away from home and are scoring points and tries, and we will have scrum half Max Johnson, fly half Nick Coupland and No 8 Freddie Watson coming back in the new year."

Otley had first use of the slope, and almost scored the first try in the fifth minute when left winger Paul Petchey was tackled into touch near the left-hand corner flag.

The reprieve was brief, however, as influential flanker James Wood broke away two minutes later and was backed up by scrum half Richard Bannister, whose short pass off the floor gave Chadwick the easiest of scores, full back Tom Hodson converting.

If Wood was a key figure for Otley early doors, then Woodhead was likewise for Wharfedale, and put them in position for Guy to have a shot at goal in the 11th minute, the fly half's nervous-looking effort floating wide from in front of the posts.

The hosts made no mistake after left winger Oli Cicognini gave them an attacking platform in the 21st minute, however.

Richard Rhodes took the line-out and Stockdale was driven over for the try, with Guy levelling matters from the right-hand touchline.

A period of midfield stalemate was followed by Guy's 38th-minute penalty, which put Wharfedale 10-7 ahead, but they would not take that lead into half-time.

Home full back Scott Jordan dithered in clearing the ball a minute later, conceding a penalty, and, after the Greens had been penalised at a second consecutive five-metre scrum, Haskins awarded Otley a penalty try, Hodson converting to give them a 14-10 lead.

Four minutes into the second half came what looked to be a defining moment.

Woodhead and then centre Harry Bullough kicked ahead and it looked as if the latter had dived on the loose ball over the line, but Haskins disallowed the try, after consulting with an assistant referee, for a knock-on by the 'try-scorer' beyond the line.

However, the home side then generally held sway until victory was in the bag.

Centre Tom Davidson's pass in the 58th minute found Harry Bullough, and he gave right winger Robbie Davidson the scoring pass, Guy nailing the conversion from the touchline.

A clearance kick being charged down gave Hodson the opportunity to make it 17-17 with a penalty in the 63rd minute, but Guy eased Wharfedale ahead with another effort from the tee six minutes later.

The killer score came in the 72nd minute when Guy's beautifully-weighted cross-kick was plucked out of the air by Robbie Davidson, who thus scored his fifth try in three weeks.

Guy's conversion made it 27-17 but, after Tom O'Donnell had threatened for the visitors, Guy then followed skipper Josh Burridge's orders to kick the ball from the field of play to end matters, rather than go for that fourth try with the last attack of an entertaining encounter watched by 847.