DAVID Pears will make a surprise return to the Wharfedale side tomorrow in their crucial survival match against Penzance Pirates at The Avenue (2.15), (writes Tony Simpson).

Pears has been playing for Esher this season and played a crucial role in defeating the Greens at Hersham three weeks ago, but he has become disenchanted with the full-back berth and that situation became known to the Dalesmen.

While they have been circumspect in the past about the wisdom of having a key player based in London, their current plight is such that the possibility of having Pears in the No 10 shirt is one they have been happy to grasp without too much deliberation.

The decision to experiment with Andy Hodgson has only been a partial success and with Chris Malherbe now likely to be out of the reckoning for a few weeks with hamstring trouble, the best use of midfield resources has become the subject of greatest discussion.

Pears' decision to throw in his lot with the Dalesmen has been accepted with good grace by Esher, who have given him an immediate release and done the paperwork necessary to allow him to play tomorrow by Wharfedale registering him as an emergency signing.

With Pears bringing his experience to the fly-half berth, as well as strengthening the side's kicking options, the Greens switch Hodgson to outside centre to partner Andy Baggett.

With Ben Wade back at No 8 this weekend after a week's suspension, Hedley Verity coming through his first game back without any reaction and scrum-half Sam Cottrell also playing half a game last weekend with reasonable success, the presence of Pears in the pivotal fly-half role gives the team an axis of experience and ability it has not enjoyed this season.

Cottrell's return sees David Whitfield moving onto the replacement bench, where he will be joined by Paul Evans, Craig Ingram and James Ogden as Gavin Hindle gets a run in the hooking berth."

Wharfedale: J Davies; C Eccleston, A Hodgson, A Baggett, G Johnston; D Pears, S Cottrell; P Peel, G Hindle, N Dickinson, D Lister, A Capstick, H Verity, S Hargreaves, B Wade. Replacements: J Ogden, P Evans, C Ingram, D Whitfield.