WHARFEDALE and North Ribblesdale will probably welcome the chance to wrap up the rugby season with a light-hearted friendly at Grove Park on Sunday (3pm) after a couple of weeks which have brought little joy to either camp, (writes Tony Simpson).

The home side have probably suffered the greater of the two in that they had an historic promotion and Powergen Vase double denied them by the narrowest of margins, although there is bound to be a measure of mutual crying on shoulders, for Wharfedale have closed their season on a pretty depressing note after promising so much earlier in their league campaign.

They were obviously hoping that the Yorkshire Cup would allow them an end-of-term source of celebration to erase a run of three low-level league performances, another second-half collapse at Doncaster last Saturday giving the home tie with Halifax added cachet.

It did not show as the Greens were well beaten 37-15 by a side that was superior in every department and had all of the game's outstanding players.

Halifax, who will be playing at The Avenue for real next season, rather than in practice matches, if the end-of-season run-in for Waterloo or the play-off against Launceston goes their way, were significantly superior in the key positions - No 8, scrum-half and fly-half.

Sam Cottrell deserved some sympathy in that his opposite number Joe Bartlett, as sharp as a tack throughout, was operating behind a more robust pack.

He was also the link between two very accomplished Kiwis - No 8 Rob Afoa-Peterson and fly-half Dougie Sanft.

Peterson was the most accomplished player on the field, scoring a brace of tries himself as Halifax crossed four times in building a 25-10 interval lead and setting up a brilliant counter-attack try for centre Craig Emmerson.

Wharfedale were pressing after a kick and chase by centre Chris Malherbe when Peterson revealed the extent of his talents. He covered back to gather in his own 22, calmly sold an outrageous dummy to Sanft to create time and space and then accelerated away, producing a sturdy hand-off en route and supplied the pass which allowed wingman John Granton to free Emmerson on an unapposed run in from half-way.

Further out, Sanft directed operations with equal confidence, his handling keeping the Wharfedale defence permanently under threat as backs and forwards alike were brought onto the ball with skill and vision.

He dropped a penalty goal when the kicking tee didn't arrive on cue and then worked the ball to teenager Dan Solomi, who opened the scoring in the corner.

That try put Halifax ahead after Wharfedale, against the run of play, had opened the scoring when good work by teenage wingman Simon Horsfall created space for Anthony Capstick to gallop home, Jonathan Davies converting.

Once ahead, Halifax grew in stature, solid work in the tight being complemented by some energetic defensive work, Emmerson doing a very effective job in containing the Wharfedale middle backs.

A penalty by Davies gave Wharfedale some hope as they turned to use the slope and their fragile optimism received another boost with a try from Horsfall early in the second-half.

The work of the ex-Giggleswick School youngster was the one beacon of hope on a generally gloomy night, for his intelligent use of blistering pace was something Halifax never came to terms with.

His try followed a touchline dash and a regathered chip ahead and there was another smart turn of foot to cause excitement soon afterwards.

But Halifax kept their nerve, Emmerson broke clear to set up the pressure which brought a penalty to full-back Aaron Canning, who quickly added a second to put the visitors two scores clear.

Centre Jamie Bloem then dropped a goal and Canning kicked another penalty to leave Halifax worthy winners and leave Wharfedale's hopes of getting their name on the famous trophy unfulfilled for another year.

How the Wharfedale contingent on county duty in the next few weeks with Yorkshire will fare is anybody's guess, for this tie looked a game too far for the Greens.

A steady runout at North Ribb may be a more attractive proposition - just.