WHARFEDALE have given themselves an eve-of-season boost by making two more signings.

One is a known quantity in flanker Jack Barnard, who is with the Greens for a month before moving south, but the other – teenage utility back Jack Johnson – should be around for the whole of the National League Two North campaign.

Head coach James Doherty, who spoke in glowing terms about Barnard's effectiveness in their defeat at Hull Ionians two weekends ago, said: "Jack (Barnard) was at a bit of a loose end until he goes down to London for an internship so I said to him 'Why not play for us for four weeks and then you will be in better shape when you find a club down there?'

"I am sorting him out with a club, but it wouldn't be fair to say which one at the moment.

"Jack knows the club and knows the lads and so will fit straight back in."

The other Jack who Doherty hopes will turn into a king is 18-year-old Johnson, a former pupil at St Joseph's College in Ipswich.

When asked how they had spotted someone from as far away as East Anglia, Doherty said: "I cast my net far and wide!

"I saw Jack on a highlights reel from St Joseph's' rugby tournament and his name kept getting mentioned.

"He is tall and rangy, we have sorted him with a job and I am really pleased that we have signed him."

Wharfedale are at Macclesfield on Saturday for their opening fixture, and Doherty said: "There is no footage around at the moment of opposition teams, but they should have a strong pack if they have kept the majority of players from National League One last season.

"However, our main aim is sorting out our own affairs in terms of the setpiece and planned moves with the backs so that we can be as confident as possible."