Wharfedale’s director of rugby Michael Harrison is urging his troops to again finish in the top six of National League One in season 2010-11.

The Dalesmen did that comfortably last season by coming 11 points ahead of seventh-placed Blaydon.

However, Harrison admits after looking at the Greens’ fixtures for the new campaign: “The league gets stronger every season.

“I expect Coventry to retain some of their more experienced players, for example, while there will be no team that everyone will beat, because Manchester have gone. It will be an interesting season and our aim will be to again finish in the top six.”

Harrison also expects Wharfedale’s playing style to be more attractive in the forthcoming campaign.

He explained: “We struggled in the scrum more than the line-out last season, and if out new coach Tommy McGee can help us to secure more possession, I reckon we will play a more exciting brand of rugby next season.”

Hot on the heels of Mark Bedworth being announced as player-coach at Westoe, the Greens will also be losing James Tincknell.

Leeds Carnegie have beaten off competition from a number of clubs to sign the talented wing prospect.

Former Old Otliensians back Tincknell, 21, scored 15 tries in just 19 starts for Wharfedale last season in National League One and was named in the England Counties squad for the three-match trip to Canada, which left on Monday.

However, Harrison said: “It is a win-win situation. If James makes it at Leeds, we will be delighted, but if he doesn’t then we hope to get him back on loan. But, whatever happens, we hope to have our long-term injured duo Adam Whaites and Daniel Hart back next season.”

Meanwhile, flanker Dan Solomi has been named in the Rugby Times National One Dream Team for 2009-10. He was a near-unanimous choice.

Wharfedale’s annual meeting is tonight in the clubhouse (7.30), and all the club’s main officers are set to continue.

WHARFEDALE FIXTURES 2010-11

Pre-season-friendlies: Aug 21 Preston Grasshoppers away, Aug 27 or 28, KENDAL HOME. National League One: Sep 4 Redruth away, Sep 11 Otley HOME, Sep 18 Tynedale away, Sep 25 STOURBRIDGE HOME, Oct 2 Sedgley Park away, Oct 9 CINDERFORD HOME, Oct 16 Cambridge away, Oct 23 MACCLESFIELD HOME, Oct 30 Coventry away, Nov 6 BLAYDON HOME, Nov 13 Barking away, Nov 20 Cornish All Blacks away, Nov 27 BLACKHEATH HOME, Dec 4 London Scottish away, Dec 11 ROSSLYN PARK HOME, Dec 18 Otley away, Jan 8 TYNEDALE HOME, Jan 15 Stourbridge away, Jan 22 SEDGLEY PARK HOME, Jan 29 Cinderford away, Feb 12 CAMBRIDGE HOME, Feb 19 Macclesfield away, Mar 5 COVENTRY HOME, Mar 12 Blaydon away, Mar 26 BARKING HOME, Apr 2 CORNISH ALL BLACKS HOME, Apr 9 Blackheath away, Apr 16 LONDON SCOTTISH HOME, Apr 23 Rosslyn Park away, Apr 30 REDRUTH HOME.