Club rugby: Wharfedale fend off final-fifteen-minute fightback to deny Chester

Wharfedale continued their 2018 resurgence with their third victory in four games, running out 22-20 winners at home to Chester in National Two North to climb up to 13th in the table.
Wharfedale try scorer, Charlie Graham. PIC: Tony JohnsonWharfedale try scorer, Charlie Graham. PIC: Tony Johnson
Wharfedale try scorer, Charlie Graham. PIC: Tony Johnson

It was a tight game throughout, the sides level 12-12 at the break thanks to a brace of tries from Wharfedale winger Charlie Graham and one conversion for Tom Barrett.

The sides traded penalties in the early stages of the second half, before lock Kieran Frost powered over for the hosts, Barrett again adding the extras, to put Wharfedale 22-15 in front.

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Chester hit back with a try of their own 15 minutes from time but the hosts held on.

Otley fell to defeat at the hands of Leicester Lions, the visitors taking victory by five points in a 25-20 game.

Lions led 25-7 at the break with a Thomas Hodson try, converted by Joe Rowntree, giving Otley a base to build on after the break.

Despite tries from Brett Mitchell and Michael Coady in the second half, the hosts came up just short, settling for a losing bonus point.

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There were two all Yorkshire ties in the North Premier league, with third-placed Hull coming through a tough game against Morley to win 15-5.

Centre Joe Martin opened the scoring for Hull on 34 minutes and full-back Lee Birch scored a sensational second-half try, running in from 55 yards.

Two minutes from time Morley’s Oli Flagg forced his way over from a rolling maul but Hull had the last say with Steve Johnson converting a late penalty.

Elsewhere, Sandal secured a comfortable 21-3 win at Ilkley, the visitors asserting themselves on the fixture early with two Greg Wood penalties and a Simon Frewin try giving them an 11-3 half-time lead.

It was more of the same in the second half.

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A converted James Stewart try and another penalty from Wood rounded off the victory.

West Leeds won 26-22 at Percy Park in North One East with lock George Carpenter crashing through on the last play of the game to snatch victory.

Kier Breakwell had scored West Leeds’ other try earlier in the second half whilst the rest of their points came from the boot of Dale Breakwell who converted four penalties.

Despite the win, West Leeds fell two places to fifth in the table, but the top five are now separated by just four points.

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