Southend 32, Wharfedale 21

Wharfedale played some of their best rugby of their National League Two season at Southend - dominating much of the first half, while facing a stiff wind.

However, just as against Otley the previous week, they ultimately paid the price of failure to convert excellent approach work in this period into points.

Just one magnificent try, the movement finished off by Adam Whaites - though arguably the try of the season' for the Greens - was not enough. Southend made much better use of significantly less opportunity to reach half-time 17-7 to the good.

The second half, disrupted by a 25-minute floodlight failure, was end to end, with good, constructive football from both sides.

Southend maintained their superior chance-conversion rate to seal victory, though the winning margin looks more comfortable than it was.

An early catch-and-drive try, claimed by prop Ivor Cook and converted by winger Andrew Frost, gave the hosts a flying start.

Unfazed, the Greens then largely took control of the game - at least, in terms of possession and pressure - up to half-time.

Whaites' tenth-minute try, overlapping at pace and completing a quickfire move by skipper Andy Baggett, supported by winger Dan Hart, was breathtaking.

Baggett's conversion equalised the score and, though the reliable Frost landed a penalty (15 minutes) for Southend, the Dalesmen continued to look the better side.

Despite the pressure, scores would not come for the visitors. Southend held out - and added to the Greens' frustration with a converted try from winger Mark Billings in the final action of the half.

A ten-point deficit, with the wind now at their backs, did not seem too steep a hill to climb. Southend, however, were the more composed side in the evenly-fought second half.

Billings grabbed his second try (48 minutes), the Greens replying with a penalty try (53 minutes), converted by Baggett, for 22-14.

Frost's penalty (57 minutes) and his conversion of fly half Ben McKeigh's try (64 minutes) left Wharfedale attacking a three-score margin.

They did that, with dogged determination, but a consolation try from lock David Lister (78 minutes), following sustained pressure, converted by Baggett, was their only reward.