North Yorkshire Trophy Final

Wharfedale Fourths 36

Whitby Seconds 11

Wharfedale set the seal on a memorable season for the club with this comprehensive victory.

The completion of a 'cup double', following the Development XV's lifting of the Aire-Wharfe Cup, was achieved by a team clearly full of confidence and 'raring to go' in the Yorkshire League next season.

It was their last appearance as 'the Fourths' as they will re-emerge as the Rams next season.

The Green supporters surrounded the ground, giving full credence to the 'home side' status on the Ripon score-board.

Apart from the opening 15 minutes, during which Whitby took a 3-0 lead and their big pack threatened, briefly, to gain the upper hand in the forward battle, Wharfedale were in control.

The only concern for contented fans, basking in the sunshine, was the failure to turn obvious superiority into anything more than a 6-3 half-time advantage. Even that owed much to a bout of petulance by a Whitby forward. His disapproval of the referee's decision lost his side 10 metres and brought Mark Richards into range for the second of his penalty conversions.

Wharfedale began the second half determined to impose some logic on the scoreboard. Three minutes of frantic activity close to the Whitby line finally produced the first try, Nigel Shuttleworth finishing off in style after the Whitby defence had been stretched in all directions. Richards' conversion made it 13-3, and from that point the result was never in doubt.

Whitby were permitted the occasional chance, but these were as much the outcome of the Greens' commitment to attack as of their own ingenuity. As the match progressed they became increasingly frustrated as the now rampant Wharfedale forwards punched gaping holes in the opposing pack and the Greens' back division capitalised with speed and invention.

Whitby garnered a try and a penalty during the final 15 minutes but, at the other end, the exuberant Greens were crossing three times, Shuttleworth collecting his second try and Richards notching a brace to take his personal tally (including two further penalties and a conversion) to 26 points.

After the match the delighted team manager, David Paling, refused to single out any of his side, referring only to the "superb team performance" that it undoubtedly was.

Particularly pleasing to note that the North Yorkshire Union had managed to attract a prominent RFU representative to make the presentation. That it was a beaming John Spencer, Wharfedale's president, rounded off the occasion very nicely!

Wharfedale: Michael Riddiough; Mike Richards, Nigel Shuttleworth, Rob Stratton, David Capper; John Lovell, Jack McGuinn; Paul Marklew (Ted Mason 60), Dave Charnley, Nigel Davidson, Jonathan Stockton, Neil Lovell, Alex Mackintosh (Don Rogers 75), Jamie Fitton, Jon Fitton.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.