WHARFEDALE launch themselves into match action at Ovenden Park next Thursday night (7.30) when they tackle progressive Halifax in a pre-season pipe-opener to obtain some crucial match practice.

They follow up with a more testing engagement against Otley, who visit Wharfedale Avenue on Saturday, August 26 (3.00) in their last match before the league season gets underway with an important trip to Rosslyn Park.

To date, all has been relatively quiet on the Dales front, although there is clearly plenty of paddling below the serene surface. The only newcomer in the ranks at this stage is centre Carl Burnett, a North of England and Yorkshire Under 19 player who hails from Middleham and had decided to throw in his lot with the Greens after playing with Middlesbrough last term.

He is described as big and quick at this stage in his development and showed up well on the training/bonding camp at Sedbergh School recently, but it is too early to talk in terms of first-team credentials. Time will tell.

A trip to Halifax should get the squad involved in some abrasive physical work for the first time. Apart from the obvious incentive of coming up against former front-row man John Metcalfe and the possiblity of renewing acquaintences with Mark Viner, Wharfedale know that Ovenden Park has never been a cosy place to visit, even when Halifax were going through their recent lean times.

Now, of course, they are a side which last season embarked on an extensive recruitment programme and were winners at Otley in the Yorkshire Cup, so they should offer a sensible test for the Greens.

Wharfedale are as ready as they can be at this stage and eager to get moving.

"Both this game and the visit of Otley will be treated as proper matches," says coach Peter Hartley: "We've found in the past that running these games in 20-minute sessions and changing players willy-nilly does no-one any good. We are seeking to develop continuity and give people valuable time playing together again, so we want the environment to reflect a proper match.

"We have to remember that we are in action at Rosslyn Park very soon now and we need to be ready for what is bound to be a stiff test. We'd obviously like to open with a good away win, but we know it won't be easy to come away from London with the points. We need to be on our game and ready."

One piece of good news for the Dalesmen is that full-back Andy Hodgson has been told that he can have the pins removed from his damaged ankle in the next couple of weeks.

A visit to consultant Ray Norton at Airedale General on Wednesday confirmed that the fracture has been healing according to plan and that the next stage can go ahead shortly.

"That was really good news for me," says Hodgson: "I've been working in the gym for about a month and I've just started running again. I've not set myself any targets or timetables because I don't want to come back too soon when there's so much rugby to play.

"But when the pins are out and the holes have healed, I can get back to full training."