COACHES can be bundles of nervous energy but Wharfedale’s coach Jon Feeley was calmness personified in the second half of their SSE National One League home match against Esher last Saturday.

Part of the explanation was having played up the slope in the first half and restricted the Surrey visitors to two penalties, the Greens had also scored a “beautifully executed” catch-and-drive try for Dan Solomi.

But, after trailing 6-5 at the interval, the major reason was that a vast portion of the second half was played with Esher deep in defence as the Greens triumphed 8-6.

However, the victory was perhaps a sign that a relatively inexperienced side are finally learning the virtues of putting in an 80-minute performance.

Feeley said: “The overwhelming majority of the second half was played in Esher’s final third, with us trying to get over their line.

“Our try came from two yards following an excellent platform, while Simon Willet deserves praise for taking over the line-out calls inthe absence of, Richard Rhodes and then Josh Burridge.

“That isn’t easy in your first season at a club but Simon has showed himself to be a senior player.

“The bravest thing he did was on the final line-out when we needed to get the ball off the pitch.

“You would have expected us to throw it short but, and maybe it was a bluff call, Alex Powell caught it at the tail and we booted the ball off the pitch for the victory. That line-out was as important as us scoring our try.”

Centre Tom Davidson will become the 26th Wharfedale player to make 100 starts in league rugby when he runs out tomorrow at home to fifth-placed Fylde.

Wharfedale welcome back Josh Burridge, with Jim Mason moving to the bench.

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