WHARFEDALE, who travel to Stourbridge tomorrow in National League Two North, have been boosted by the return of fly half Tom Barrett.

Jamie Guy switches to centre to replace Tom Davidson, who is one of three Greens players on international duty, while Josh Prell comes back on the wing to allow Scott Jordan to take Robbie Davidson’s place at full back.

Joe Altham returns at prop for Tom Asejevs, with the latter and the Davidsons all playing for Latvia tomorrow in their Rugby Europe Championship Conference One North clash against Luxembourg in Jelgeva.

The Davidsons qualifying via their grandfather Helmuts Francmanis, and will doubtless be hoping that the Greens’ defence is better in the Midlands than it was last Saturday at home to Sheffield Tigers, where they let Peter Swatkins and company roam.

If tackling was Wharfedale’s problem, then being clinical in attack was Otley’s in their 23-14 defeat at Scunthorpe.

“Their defence was good but our fitness was greater than theirs and we blew loads of chances in their 22 – things like passing the ball into touch instead of to the winger or just an inability to hold the ball,” says Otley secretary Marc Lawrence.

“But we are happy with our home form so far with three wins out of three (Wharfedale, Chester and Preston Grasshoppers for 13 league points) but disappointed with our away form (four defeats in four, only 37 points scored and no league points).

“However, we have played three of the top four away from home and we aren’t going to catch teams such as Caldy, Sale, Leicester Lions, Sedgley Park, Stourbridge and Chester, so I would be happy with a mid-table finish, and coming above Wharfedale!”

Tomorrow, 11th-placed Otley are at basement boys Hinckley, presenting them with a fine opportunity for an away win.

WHARFEDALE (at Stourbridge): S Jordan; J Prell, H Bullough, J Guy, R Wellock; T Barrett, W Lawn; J Altham, I Larkin, J Huck, A Allen, G Hedgley, R Baldwin, J Burridge, L Wilson. Replacements: D Stockdale, M Close, E Ward, A Hodgson.