WHARFEDALE travel to Halifax tomorrow in fairly optimistic mood after an encouraging warm-up match against Kendal at The Avenue last weekend.

The Dalesmen emerged from a three-session match with a 19-14 win, the only blemish on a solid all-round display being a couple of tries created by the visitors through some solid running in midfield.

"I was fairly happy with the way things went," said coach Peter Hartley. "It was our first run-out and we were not 'match-ready'. Both teams used all 25 players in their squads, so that always brings the usual problems.

"I thought we dominated the game and our ball winning and ball retention was good, although we did not defend as well as we can.

"The youngsters looked handy, with James Hutchinson and Simon Horsfall both doing well and looking quick, while George Smithson confirmed that he still has serious potential on the wing.

"I was also pleased with the way Chris Meehan shaped at fly-half and John Newton also did well at No 9. He has a very tasty pass."

"Both Meehan and Newton will be going to Halifax tomorrow, when we'll get a better assessment all-round of our prospects."

Meehan has joined Wharfedale from neighbours Keighley, where he has played since he first turned to the game from soccer as a junior.

He is currently studying in Newcastle, but last season came back to Keighley each week, either to play in the Aire-Wharfe Cup in mid-week or, in the latter games of the season, to play first team rugby. He has been involved in the England set-up at 18 group Club level and also spent some time at Leeds Tykes.

Following last week's confidence boosting victory at Burnley in a pre season friendly, Skipton will this week entertain a Halifax XV in the season's first competitive fixture for the Moya Childs Trophy.

A 30-17 victory at Belvedere was just what coaches Oldfield and Hindle ordered and a tough fixture against the resurgent Ovenden based side will give the Reds another stern test before the League season starts next week.

Skipton Seconds are also in action at Sandylands, where they play Rishworthians First XV. Both games kick off at 3pm.

The Sandylands men have been boosted in recent weeks by the arrival of a clutch of new players.

Nineteen-year-old back-row forward Matthew Wilson was joined the club from Wharfedale, while 22-year-old Duncan Roberts is another flanker who had previously played at Rochdale.

Kia Downy is a 23-year-old centre who has previous experience of first-team rugby at Bradford & Bingley and prop Nigel Fitzsimmonds has travelled up the valley from neighbours Keighley, where he had occasional first-team outings and was a solid member of the Utley club's front-row union.

Another back-row/second-row forward due back is Sam Boatwright, who signed for Liverpool St Helens when he went to Liverpool University.

He has been on a rugby scholarship in America in recent weeks and is expected back shorttly to challenge for a back-row berth.

Two newcomers from well outside the parish are wingman Ben Davies and centre Peter Collins, who have arrived in the area form the south.

With talented Kiwi scrum-half Grant Litt continuing, the Reds have no plans to extend their net into the Antipodes once again.

North Ribblesdale's scheduled game against Wharfedale Seconds at The Avenue tomorrow has been called off because of player availability.

Word from Grove Park is that the pre-season build-up has been going well, with victory in the Colne & Nelson Tens and a good workout against Upper Eden taking the squad down the road to match fitness.

The club has also been boosted by the addition of young Kiwi Stephen Taylor, Anthony Simpson from Wharfedale and Chris Howarth from Skipton, while scrum-half Nick Greenhalgh should be available during his studies at Leeds.

The Dalesmen open their league programme with a trip to Ripon on Saturday week, so they need to be fully prepared for a stiff test.