WHARFEDALE travel to Nuneaton tomorrow knowing that they could be in for an embarrassing clattering if they do not apply themselves and find some sort of away form in a season which has brought precious little joy on the road, (writes Tony Simpson).

Pride in performance is the main motivating force tomorrow now that thoughts of promotion and relegation have passed, but the prospect of a hefty reverse at the hands of a team still desperate to stay in the promotion hunt should be another incentive.

Nuneaton have become arguably the strongest team in the division since the turn of the year and have recovered extremely well since losing 26-8 at The Avenue on the first day of the season.

At this stage, leaders Sedgley Park and Nottingham are favourites to move up, but there are testing games ahead for the top pair and Nuneaton will want to be in position to take advantage of any lapse. Defeat by the Dalesmen would be very annoying.

"If we don't play well we could getting a tanning," says Wharfedale coach Peter Hartley. "We haven't done well against sides who like to move the ball wide and play and open game, so we need to have our defence in order.

"We beat them on the opening day of the season at home and they took their time to settle in having been promoted last season, but they have come through strongly and been a real force in recent months. They have been the best side in the table in recent months and we want to do well against them."

Wharfedale: J Davies; G Johnston, A Baggett, C Malherbe, S Horsfall; D Pears, S Cottrell; P Peel, J Ogden, C Ingram, D Lister, A Capstick, P Evans, H Verity, S Allen. Rep: N Dickinson, A Peel, J Hutchinson, B Wade.