WHARFEDALE's new director of rugby Rob Baldwin is eager to see the Greens start "closing games out" after suffering another loss to last week.

The Greens have lost three games on the spin - a thriller against leaders Hinckley, a hard fought derby against Otley and Hull Ionians last Saturday - yet Wharfedale held leads in all three of those defeats.

"The last three games we should have won after leading in all three," said Baldwin. "It's easy to say the best team lost, but it was about not knowing how to close games out.

"We've got to play smart rugby," he said. "We've been too eager to carry on and get another score. We lose concentration."

And Baldwin added that although mistakes have cost Wharfedale three wins, he did say: "We've been playing really well with the ball. The guys at the back are scoring the tries.

"We just need to keep our concentration levels higher and respect the opposition more."

Baldwin said that Wharfedale's opponent this Saturday, the Preston Grasshoppers, have won just one of their five matches, but like Wharfedale many of those games have been close.

"They've lost some close ones," he said. "I'm expecting another hard fought close derby. It'll come down to the team who makes the fewest mistakes."

Baldwin said the Grasshoppers side will be familiar to the Greens, as three of their new recruits this season are ex-Wharfedale players.

One of those will be fly half Tom Davidson, who Baldwin described as a "good kicker of the ball". Former Wharfedale players Adam Howard and Scott Jordan are also in the Grasshoppers' squad.

Baldwin is pleased that players across the Wharfedale squad have been playing well, which has meant coach John Feeley has a large squad to pick from.

Baldwin said that he believes that up to 30 players could be available for this Saturday's game.

One player the Greens could be missing though is their captain Richard Rose, who recently suffered a hip injury.

"He might not make it, but he will aiming to prove his fitness," said Baldwin.

Baldwin has been working hard and is enjoying his new role as director of rugby, since took over from Michael Harrison at the beginning of the season.

"It's been a steep learning curve because I have some big boots to fill," admitted Baldwin. "But I'm working at building from the ground up."