WHARFEDALE'S head coach James Doherty didn't mince his words after their 39-8 National League Two North defeat at Sedgley Park last Saturday.

He said: "It was our most disappointing performances of the season by a stretch – we just didn't turn up, and we are not a good enough side to not turn up and expect to get away with it.

"I think that this is a more even division than National League One.

"Anybody can beat anybody in National League Two North, whereas there is more of a gulf between the top and the bottom in National League One."

Doherty's team have lost all six of their away matches this campaign (they haven't won on the road since their 16-15 victory at Hull Ionians on December 12 last season, which means 12 defeats plus the 26-26 draw at Cinderford on January 16).

He said of the Sedgley Park match: "We actually started really well for ten minutes. We defended well, but then we were starved of possession.

"We then made errors on top of errors, and Sedgley Park were very clinical, whereas the previous week (in the 19-12 home win over Scunthorpe) we responded to every error by doing something positive.

"We were on the wrong end of possession by 70 per cent to 30 per cent in the first half last weekend, but the second half was more even.

"We couldn't seem to keep the ball for more than three or four phases, while the set-piece went okay, although we missed a couple of line-outs."

As for the difference between their home record and their away record Wharfedale have picked up just one point on the road this season, whereas at The Avenue they have earned 16 points, Doherty said: "The three wins we have had at home have all been against sides who have come here for the first time ever or the first time for a very long time, and Wharfedale isn't an easy place to win at and the crowd make a difference."

On Saturday, Wharfedale, who are still second-from-bottom on 17 points alongside Harrogate and Preston Grasshoppers, will be hoping for more home comforts against fifth-placed Chester.

Scunthorpe (19 points) and Sheffield Tigers (21) are also within striking distance, however, and Doherty said: "Chester usually finish in the top half of the table, but it is very very tight at the bottom, and it really is a time for us to focus on ourselves rather than worry about the opposition."

Wharfedale field nearly the same starting 15 as last week against Chester, but Jimmy Bullough starts at scrum half, with Will Lawn taking his seat on the bench, and Harry Bullough moves to full back with Andy Hodgson starting in the centre.

The recently-injured Ian Larkin is among the replacements, but prop Mike Bradshaw returns to Wharfedale Foresters to get game-time.

Wharfedale (home to Chester): H Bullough; R Davidson, A Hodgson, T Davidson, O Cicognini; T Barrett, J Bullough; J Altham, D Stockdale, T Asejevs, R Rhodes, G Hedgley, T Whyte, J Burridge, L Wilson. Replacements: I Larkin, J Huck, A Allen, W Lawn, J Prell.