Wharfedale facing the ultimate test (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Wharfedale facing the ultimate test

5:10pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Sport By Gordon Brown, Wharfedale programme editor

It is commonly claimed among the Wharfedale faithful that the team play their best against the better sides, while struggling against the strugglers.

They get a chance on Saturday to put that to the ultimate test when they travel to Ealing Trailfinders, the SSE National League One champions elect who sit atop the league with a nine-point lead over the pack and a game in hand.

Despite coming a valiant second to last year’s champions Jersey, many at Wharfedale thought the Trailfinders the best team in the division, borne out this season with a home record which shows just one defeat.

At The Avenue in Octobe,r they won by 41-17, scoring five tries in the process.

Wharfedale go into the match with their confidence boosted by a win last Saturday over Loughborough Students.

The performance, however, was well below what will be required for a repeat in west London - a fact recognised by coach Tom McGee.

He said: “Our performance against the Students was definitely a step in the right direction but Ealing will be a different proposition.

"However, I was pleased with the way the players set about their task, and I know that they will be up for Saturday’s challenge.”

The selectors, in anticipation of the important run-in to the end of the season, have rotated the key positions of hooker and scrum half, giving a start to Ian Larkin and James Gough. Lloyd Davies has recovered from illness and resumes on the wing.

Wharfedale (at Ealing Trailfinders): A Whaites; L Davies, L Gray, J Tincknell, J Donkin; T Barrett, J Gough; A Howard, I Larkin, M Tampin, R Brown, R Rhodes, A Allen, A Myers, D Solomi. Replacements: J Altham, S Graham, J Mason, P Woodhead, S Horsfall.