WHARFEDALE’S start to the season has been underwhelming.

They have only won one of their first eight matches and they sit second from bottom in National League Two North, just two points above basement boys Sheffield.

The Green Machine had actually won two matches by this stage last season, when they only secured safety with a losing bonus point at Chester in the third from last set of fixtures.

However, there is no pressing of the panic button from Wharfedale’s president John Spencer. He said: “It is early days yet , and we have had a lot of injuries and players being unavailable, and that sort of thing.

“But we have a very young side, they are learning very quickly, and I am certain that they will get the job done later in the season.”

That means that 2017-18 could well mirror 2016-17. Last season the Dalesmen only won two of their first 11 matches, but then won nine of their final 19 games to end up tenth, four places and 14 points above the final relegation place (Harrogate).

Spencer, who was manager for the British Lions on their tour of New Zealand this summer, added: “Apart from one or two teams at the top, anyone really can beat anybody in this division, where the standard has surprised me.

“There are some well-established clubs in there, but we have been playing well in patches and it is not as if we are being thrashed every week.

“I am confident that we have the right sort of characters within the club to survive.”

Wharfedale handicapped themselves last Saturday against Huddersfield at Lockwood Park, and were 29-0 behind after 24 minutes.

However, they won the rest of the match 27-14 to earn a four-try bonus point, and chairman of rugby Michael Harrison agreed with Spencer that these are indeed early days.

Harrison went on to say: “The lads are taking responsibility rather than blaming other players, and self admission is always a good thing.”

Jamie Guy comes back to Wharfedale for the first time this season to strengthen midfield for Saturday’s home game with Leicester Lions.

In the forwards, Adam Howard and James Tyson are both away, so, Tom Whyte starts in the back row with George Hedgley.

Chris Swainson comes in at No 8 after an excellent performance for the Foresters last week

Wharfedale Tom Mann; Ralph Wellock, Joel Gill, Jamie Guy, Oli Cicognini; Tom Barrett, Phil Woodhead (c); Joe Altham, Dan Stockdale, Reece Ward, Jim Mason, Richard Rhodes, George Hedgley, Tom Whyte, Chris Swainson Replacements Ian Larkin, Toms Asejevs, Simon Borrill, Stevie Graham, Ben Parkinson