Wharfedale 31, Cambridge 24

A 75th-minute try from veteran centre Andy Hodgson proved the difference between two enterprising sides free of relegation worries.

Despite the early home pressure and promise of midfield penetration, Cambridge led 17-0 after 20 minutes and 24-17 early after the break, playing with speed and freedom.

Their bulky pack surprised the Greens at the breakdown and turnover ball produced two excellent early breakaway tries. First a fine break out of defence by fullback Mike Ayrton sucked in the wide defence to set pacey winger Patrick Tapley striding home.

Then a second break set centre Will Lawson free for a score which, with the addition of two conversions and a penalty from fly half Elliott Bale, rocked a somewhat sloppy Dale.

Wharfedale at last added some precision to their fine approach play before pressure at the line earned hooker Steve Graham a try at the back of a driven maul.

A long, telling break by centre James Tincknell was quickly recycled and lock Richard Rhodes romped over for a try, converted by Tom Barrett, to leave Wharfedale 17-12 adrift at half-time.

They quickly drew level with a pacey supporting finish by Dan Solomi from Barrett’s neat inside pass, only for Cambridge to recover the lead through hooker Jarrod Taylor’s powerful midfield break.

The visitors’ continuing ability to force turnover ball, combined with the excellent ball-carrying from the base of the scrum by outstanding No 8 Steve Hipwell, kept an enthralling contest well on the boil.

But Wharfedale’s extra time on the ball was beginning to wear Cambridge down. Once an alert Barrett had seized on a loose dropped ball near the line to streak home and convert his own score, a slightly relieved Wharfedale were able to pick off the winning try with a another fine break from centre James Tincknell.

Wharfedale’s victory rugby lifts them four places to tenth – a position perhaps more in keeping with their season’s level of overall performance.