Match Preview

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PRE-MATCH LUNCH
This season lunches need to be booked in advance (by 23:59 on the Thursday) using a simple on-line reservation & payment system. Due to a maximum capacity this will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
The lunch prior to our next home match against Otley on the 9th March will be served from 12.30pm with BAR1876 opening from 12noon.
For further details: https://www.tynedalerfc.co.uk/a/prematch-lunches-66490.html
To Book:-

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WHARFEDALE V TYNEDALE
Saturday 2nd March 2024 (KO 2pm)

The 1stXV are again back down south into Yorkshire this weekend but not as far down as we travel to ThreshfIeld in North Yorkshire to take on our old friends, and almost near neighbours, at Wharfedale RUFC.
We are fortunate that this season Tynedale are able to play Wharfedale RUFC twice in their Centenary year. Today’s match was due to be played on the 13th. January 2024 but both the 1st XV and Tynedale Raiders fixtures that day had to be postponed.
The Raiders also play Wharfedale Foresters today, and both teams will be looking forward to renewing old rivalries.

TYNEDALE v WHARFEDALE

Since 1987 there have been 28 League matches between the two 1st XV teams. Wharfedale have won 10 times (602 points); Tynedale have won 17 times (655 points), with one match drawn.
There have also been almost as many Raiders v Foresters competitive matches in that time, and the two clubs continued to play friendly pre-season matches when the 1st XV’s were in different leagues.

RECENT 1st XV RESULTS

2016-2017 Tynedale 35 Wharfedale 10
2016-2017 Wharfedale 27 Tynedale 3
2017-2018 Wharfedale 14 Tynedale 33
2017-2018 Tynedale 22 Wharfedale 24
2018-2019 Wharfedale 18 Tynedale 3
2018-2019 Tynedale 27 Wharfedale 21
2019-2020 Wharfedale 27 Tynedale 27
2019-2020 Tynedale 26 Wharfedale 34
2021-2022 Tynedale 24 Wharfedale 13
2021-2022 Wharfedale 37 Tynedale 42
2022-2023 Wharfedale 22 Tynedale 29
2022-2023 Tynedale 21 Wharfedale 20
2023-2024 Tynedale 22 Wharfedale 24

MICHAEL HARRISON
Two days after the 16th Sept. matches, on the 18th September 2023, the Wharfedale club suffered a huge blow with the sad death of a club legend, John Michael Harrison, known in the Dales as “Clarty”, at the age of 77 years, following a short illness.

Michael was the greatest influence on the Threshfield club’s successes and its rise to compete in National League rugby. He was also a great friend of Tynedale over the years.

A tough player, Michael had been an England Schools centre-threequarter and only ever played club rugby for Wharfedale. He made 665 appearances for the first team, captained the club for eight seasons and for many years was the club’s leading points scorer.
On retiring he was the head coach for many years, Director of Rugby from 1983 to 2006, Chairman of the Rugby Committee, and Fixtures Secretary for 40 years. He also chaired the northern branch of the National Clubs Association (now National League Rugby). In all rugby matters he was wise; very wise, but his innate humility always overrode everything.

Michael’s efforts as a rugby administrator may have been legendary, but throughout the Dales he was also respected as a farmer, governor, husband and father.

After a Summer Ball to mark the start of its centenary celebrations in June, Wharfedale RUFC held a celebration weekend on Saturday 30 September and Sunday October 1 2023. As an immediate mark of respect for Michael and his family, the club named the weekend “The Michael Harrison Mini and Junior Centenary Weekend”.

THE KENDALLS - OYEZ, OYEZ !

The Tynedale club has always been exceptionally well represented by our current President David Kendall. Apart from official duties we have been especially indebted to him for his trojan work in organising the volunteer labour at the club’s most prestigious non-rugby event, the Beer Festival.

The Kendall’s have a long history of producing famous people (Howard Kendall the footballer and Kenneth Kendall the broadcaster spring to mind – our current President was in fact a 2nd cousin of the late Howard).
But, is there another Kendall challenging for much wider recognition? Wharfedale’s Bob Kendall ?
Following on from earlier success last year where Grassington’s Town Crier Bob Kendall was named ‘best-dressed crier’ at a national competition held at Halifax, Wharfedale RUFC appointed Bob as their ‘Club Crier’ in what was believed to be rugby union’s first recognised, Town Crier.

TYNEDALE’S LAST TRIP TO WHARFEDALE
Tynedale’s last visit to Wharfedale was on 15th Oct 2022 when the away side came away with a 29-22 victory.
Tynedale were ahead for most of the match and were able to fend off a last-quarter comeback from the home side.
The Tynedale squad was:-
FORWARDS: White, Johnston, Caudle, Wearmouth, Nankivell, Dunn, Hall, Blackburn
BACKS: Telford, Rodgers, Todhunter, Roue, Cramb, Hutton, Parker
REPLACEMENTS: Carmichael, Dodd, Brown, Leslie, Cooke

TYNEDALE V WHARFEDALE THIS SEASON
Our reverse fixture was played on the 16th September 2023 with Wharfedale edging a 24-22 victory and sending Tynedale to their third successive defeat. Three defeats from three was not a great start to the season.
The match was a scrappy affair, the lead changing hands several times with the last ten minutes being the only period when either side seemed in control. It was Wharfedale who scored the winning try with ten minutes to go and were able to keep possession for the remainder of the match to secure victory.
The Tynedale squad that day was:-
FORWARDS: White, Oliver, Caudle, Wearmouth, Dunn, Hanning, Johnston, Hall
BACKS: Telford, Rodgers, Hutton, Scott, Lilley, Dryden, Beaty
REPLACEMENTS: Waterhouse, Rewcastle, Cousin, Leslie, Miller

WHARFEDALE THIS SEASON
Wharfedale have had a good season to date and occupy fourth position in the league, three positions above Tynedale. Their league position is particlularly impressive as five of their remaining seven fixtures are home games, their home record is won 7 from 8! As ever the latest in the “Battles of the Dales” will be a tough test.

Wharfedale’s League results to date:-
Lymm 21 Wharfedale 22
Wharfedale 19 Rotherham 34
Tynedale 22 Wharfedale 24
Wharfedale 27 Fylde 26
Wharfedale 33 Sheffield 25
Wharfedale 31 Otley 7
Hull Ionians 36 Wharfedle 23
Wharfedale 35 Hull 6
Leeds Tykes 20 Wharfedale 8
Wharfedale 31 Sheffield Tigers 17
Preston Grasshoppers 22 Wharfedale 35
Huddersfield 12 Wharfedale 28
Rotherham 33 Wharfedale 7
Fylde 7 Wharfedale 24
Sheffield 31 Wharfedale 14
Wharfedale 31 Billingham 7
Otley 0 Wharfedale 41
Wharfedale 39 Hull Ionians 19
Hull 21 Wharfedale 10

OFFICIALS
Referee: Henry Pearson

GROUND
Wharfeside Avenue
Threshfield
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 5BS

WHARFEDALE WEBSITE
https://www.wharfedalerufc.co.uk/

CORBRIDGE TO THRESHFIELD
93 miles (via A68 and A1) – 2hrs 15mins

WEATHER FORECAST
Light rain, light south-easterly wind, 4 degrees

SELECTED SQUAD