THE best-laid plans certainly went awry for Wharfedale last weekend.

They only arrived at Blaydon 15 minutes before the scheduled 2pm kick-off but started just ten minutes late in their SSE National League One encounter on the way to a 34-27 defeat.

"We set off early to allow ourselves extra time for the roadworks and were due to arrive at 12.15pm but then got caught up in an accident outside the Metro Centre and didn't arrive until 1.45pm," said frustrated Greens coach Jon Feeley.

"There was no room for negotiation from the Blaydon side of things and our late arrival was clearly reflected in our first-half display (they trailed 15-3 at half-time and were 34-15 behind after 64 minutes).

"But if we had played for the whole match like we did in the second half, we would have won and, although I am proud that we picked up two bonus points, the frustrating thing is that we didn't play like that from minute one.

"Maybe two-thirds of the way through the season the penny will drop. I know we are a young side but we have to be more adaptable in how we prepare for matches, such as travel disruptions and injuries during the warm-up, and how we adapt to the referee.

"We cannot use things like this as excuses - but I have to admit that it was funny when Micky Ward, who has made over 200 appearances for Newcastle Falcons, got sin-binned in the second half.

"We had Jake Armstrong sin-binned and it was matter of swapping our props around until we got into a situation where we weren't being penalised, and then a Premiership legend such as Micky was then sin-binned!"

Two bonus points seemed a long way off when Wharfedale trailed by 19 points with 16 minutes left but a try by James Doherty and a penalty try, which was converted, left Feeley a proud man.

The Greens are at home to ninth-placed Esher tomorrow (2.00) in their first meeting of the season, despite the fact that the Dalesmen have already played 23 matches. The match was postponed in December due to ice and snow.

Wharfedale are three places and seven points below the visitors and Feeley said: "We did the double over them last season and it would be great to do it again."

The selectors will await a fitness test on Josh Burridge. The young forward, who has done so well to fill the shoes of the injured Rob Baldwin, has had the plaster removed from his fractured hand and is raring to go. He joins Jim Mason and Alex Powell in competition for the No 8 shirt.

Matt Beesley, who came off injured in the second minute at Blaydon, resumes at prop in an otherwise unchanged side.

Wharfedale (home to Esher): T Prell; L Davies, C Hudson, T Davidson, O Cicognini; J Guy, J Doherty; M Beesley, I Larkin, J Armstrong, A Howard, S Willet, J Barnard, J Burridge, D Solomi. Replacements (from): M Freeman, D Stockdale, J Altham, J Mason, A Powell, J Prell.