Wharfedale 32, Darlington Mowden Park 18
Wharfedale recorded their first home league win since December 2013 with a convincing SSE National League One display over newcomers Darlington Mowden Park.
Leading 18-10 at half-time, Dale put together an impressive second period, with the Green Machine’s domination resulting in two penalty tries.
The opening exchanges were even, Garry Law and Tom Davidson both slotting penalties before a Philip Woodhead drop goal edged the home side in front.
Wharfedale’s tackling was good for nearly all of the afternoon but it slipped up after 27 minutes to allow Law to cross for the first try of the day, which he also converted.
The lead changed hands again when winger Oliver Cicognini ended a move to score out on the left, Davidson adding the extras, and Dale extended their lead with a driving penalty accredited to hooker Ian Larkin, Davidson shaving the upright on the wrong side.
Darlington opened the scoring in the second half with another Law penalty before the Dalesmen started to dominate up front, leading to the referee twice going under the posts, after 52 and 78 minutes, with Davidson successful from the tee.
Darlington’s cause was not helped by four yellow cards (the fourth being Jack Allcock’s second and upgraded to red), while Wharfedale kept their discipline and only suffered one sin-binning.
It was while Joe Altham was in the bin that Darlington scored a try which gave them some hope after 59 minutes. Wharfedale’s bonus-point try, however, ended their resistance.
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