JAMES Doherty makes no bones about Saturday’s visit to Sheffield Tigers.

Wharfedale’s head coach says: “This is our biggest game of the season.

“It is a must-win game for us as we need to carry on picking up points and get up into mid-table.”

The Greens, buoyed by last weekend’s 32-22 home victory over Luctonians, are still in a dogfight in the nether regions of National League Two North.

Only four points separate Wharfedale, who are in the highest of the three relegation places in 14th, and reviving Harrogate, who are in 11th.

The Dalesmen have 32 points to Gate’s 36, but even Preston Grasshoppers (23) and Tigers (22), who occupy the bottom two places, can be dangerous, with Hoppers taking care of Otley 30-5 at Lightfoot Green last weekend to move up one slot from last place.

Tigers beat Wharfedale 29-19 at The Avenue in October after an abject defensive display by the hosts, and Doherty said: “We will not be taking Sheffield lightly at all.

“That defeat was probably the start of our revival as we tackled them two handed around the waist and they didn’t go down, which was a bit unfair really!”

Doherty wouldn’t mind an opening 40 minutes like the one against Luctonians last weekend.

He said: “I thought the warm-up was a bit flat and I started throwing tackle bags around but once the game started we were spot-on.

“The players responded to what I had been drilling into them in training all week and the senior players took it upon themselves to be leaders, and it was a really good first-half performance. We worked hard for each other.”

Wharfedale led 23-5 at the break but Luctonians scored two contrasting tries at the start of the second half – one a penalty try and the other after they had gone through 28 phases.

Doherty said: “I didn’t think it was a penalty try as I don’t think the scrum wheeled 45 degrees, never mind 90.

“Sometimes referees give decisions against you because they have heard that you are struggling in the scrum.

“I admit that I was worried after the first ten minutes of the second half, but the other 30 minutes was a bit better.

“Tom Barrett (who scored 22 points) landed three drop goals and made the right decision on how to balance his game but George Hedgley was outstanding and, having watched the game through on video, was even better than I first thought.

“Also Phil Woodhead was always a threat at scrum half and was superb too.”

It is no surprise that the selectors have decided to go with an unchanged team for the trip to Sheffield.

After losing their last two away games at Hinckley and South Leicester by a single point, Wharfedale will be hoping to finally register that elusive first away win of the season.

Wharfedale: Harry Bullough; Robbie Davidson, Tom Davidson, Jamie Guy, Scott Jordan; Tom Barrett, Phil Woodhead; Joe Altham, Dan Stockdale, Toms Asejevs, Adam Howard, Richard Rhodes, George Hedgley, Tom Whyte, Josh Burridge (c). Replacements Jordon Poole, James Huck, Ian Larkin, Jimmy Bullough, Josh Prell.