WHARFEDALE are out of a relegation berth for the first time since mid-November, when they were in the middle of a run of seven defeats.

But, although Greens coach Tom McGee is not one for poring over the National League One table on a weekly basis, he is aware that they have climbed to 13th after their 26-17 home victory over Henley Hawks.

"I just hope that our performances at home to Blaydon and Cinderford don't come back to hurt us," said McGee after they went above Blaydon to fourth from bottom.

"We just have to keep on playing good rugby. The injury Gods haven't been very kind to us, so we just have to hope that the weather Gods are kinder to us.

"If we play well and play positively, we will get the performances that we need."

Henley tried to get under Wharfedale's skins in the first half, and McGee said: "Rob Baldwin was the only one to get yellow carded, and was a bit unlucky.

"The referee saw his retaliation off the ball out of the corner of his eye but not what had happened before to cause it.

"We had a been loose with our carries in the first half, which led to a lack of possession, but we told the players at half-time to keep their discipline as the referee was getting fed up with everything that was going on.

"The second-half display was more assured and we were more positive and more direct, which, coupled with an improvement in our set-piece, meant that we could control territory and possession.

Wharfedale are at seventh-placed Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday, and give James Doherty a start at scrum half after two appearances off the bench.

Ollie Fewtrell replaces Huw Morgan (pulled quad muscle) in the centre, with Jamie Guy reverting to fly half, Harry Bullough switching to full back and Phil Woodhead moving to the wing.

Rob Baldwin is serving a two-week ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.