Wharfedale defence comes under scrutiny

A 26 match campaign last season conceded just 505 points. After just two matches of the new season, the points against tally has already reached treble figures.

Coach Peter Hartley concedes it is an "issue" that 15 tries have been shipped in just two games and the players know it has to be addressed.

The blame is laid at the door of individual mistakes and players falling off tackles rather than an organisational problem, although Hartley points out that last week's pack was severely disrupted by injuries.

"We will be working hard on defence in training this week, but then we do every week," said Hartley.

"We just have to do what we do better rather than reworking everything. After all, we've had a lot of defensive practice out on the pitch!"

The loss of Phil Peel after just 20 minutes was exacerbated by the departure of influential captain John Lawn in the second half. Replacement Dickenson had injured his knee at home on the morning of the match and was hampered.

"When you suffer the disruption like that, then it's very hard to pick up," said Hartley. "I thought it was a better performance than the week before and four tries conceded from driven lineouts tells its own story."

Lawn is unlikely to start this week's match at home to Manchester, although he was still on the team sheet at the time of going to press. Gavin Hindle, coaching Skipton but still on the Wharfedale books, is on standby.

With Hedley Verity ruled out at the start of the week with a back injury, there is better news of Phil Peel's shoulder injury and Dickenson's knee with both expected to start the match.

Behind the scenes Wharfedale have rung a couple of changes.

Chris Meehan comes in at stand off to show what he can do before Wharfedale's Kiwi recruit arrives to put even more pressure on the No 10 shirt.

The other change is on the wing where James Hutchinson, another early injury casualty at Waterloo, is rested from first team duties while his hip recuperates. Andy Lovatt steps in.