IF EVER one match showed the importance of keeping one’s collective concentration for 80 minutes, it was Wharfedale’s SSE National League One home clash against third-placed Rosslyn Park last Saturday.

The Greens lost 17-12, and that was directly due to a short spell during which No 8 Hugo Ellis scored two tries and winger Joseph Aluwa one up the slope.

Wharfedale coach Jon Feeley said: “We are frustrated that we didn’t win it.

“Rosslyn Park won 45-3 at The Avenue last January and this time we held one of the best driving mauls in the division in the second half downhill and came away disappointed that we didn’t triumph.

“But it boiled down to a small spell when we went to sleep and conceded all our points, and we are particularly disappointed with the second try.

“However, we didn’t give the game away after that and our defence was heroic in the second half against a team that are vying for promotion.

“It is a very thin line between success and failure but it a measure of the lads that they were so frustrated that they didn’t win.”

Wharfedale’s doughty display was in no small part due to replacement prop Mat Freeman, who replaced Jake Armstrong at half-time.

Feeley said: “Their prop tried legal and illegal methods, such as pulling down his bind, to get the better of Mat but without success, and he will definitely be part of the first team this weekend at Loughborough Students.

“Another factor was the return of Simon Willet, whose bulk pushing behind Matt was very helpful.”

The trick for the Greens now is not to let their standards slip in the next four matches against teams in and around their 11th place, starting with the Students, who are 12th.

However, they will be without both flanker James Tyson (ankle) and No 8 and line-out leader Josh Burridge (broken hand).

However, lock Willet starts, Alex Powell reverts to No 8 and Jack Barnard is at blind-side flanker in place of Tyson. Jim Mason comes on to the bench.