ANOTHER impressive performance on the road on Saturday saw Tynedale climb to fourth place in National League Division Two North.

To the uninitiated, the trip to Threshfield to take on Wharfedale looked something of doddle on paper, with the Yorkshiremen rock bottom of the table with six defeats and only one win from their seven games so far.

But the bi-annual clashes between the two Dales are always passionate affairs, in which league positions mean very little.

And so it proved on Saturday as Wharfedale opened up an early lead, and finished strongly too with two late tries to cause Tynedale hearts to flutter

But Tynedale prevailed with another maximum points win, despite being without a recognised scrum-half.

Regular stand-off Josh Leslie took the number nine shirt, and acquitted himself well with another polished performance which included a try.

He struck up a good understanding with fly-half Ted Fletcher to keep Wharfedale on the back foot for the key middle section of the game.

Tynedale welcomed back two key players, with skipper Oscar Caudle returning to the front row and Joe Beaty back at outside centre, where he celebrated with the opening try.

Despite their lowly league standing, it was Wharfedale who started the brighter, and they took the lead after just two minutes when a Callum Trees penalty wobbled over the bar after hitting the post,

After a couple of Tynedale moves had broken down, Wharfedale extended their lead on 14 minutes when some slick handling ended with flanker Joe Fawcett going over in the corner for an unconverted try for an 8-0 lead.

Gradually though Tynedale settled and gained a measure of control, and on 23 minutes, Beaty cruised in under the posts for a try converted by full-back Cam Grant.

Tynedale got their noses in front for the first time on 33 minutes, when more good handling saw impressive winger Will Ainsley cross in the far corner for a try superbly converted by Grant for a 14-8 advantage.

Just before the break, a promising Wharfe attack was stopped in its tracks, as Leslie scooped up the ball on halfway and ran in unchallenged for the third try, Grant’s conversion sending the visitors in at half-time with a perhaps flattering 21-8 advantage.

Tynedale started to turn the screw at the start of the second half, as the forwards began to dominate, and it came as something of a surprise that it took until the hour mark for the scoreboard to click over again, as flanker Archie Rattray was driven over for the bonus point try, again converted by Grant for a 28-8 scoreline.

Surprisingly, that was the end of the scoring for Tynedale, as Wharfedale dominated the remainder of the game with some strong play. Left wing Owen Bullock went over in the corner on 68 minutes, for an unconverted try before inside centre Oli Cicognini added a third Wharfedale try which was time converted in the last play of the game, which earned Rattray a yellow card.

Tynedale have a tough game on Saturday when they entertain third-placed Chester before the many old Blue and Whites who will be enjoying the annual past players’ lunch.

Chester come to Corbridge in the back of an impressive 25-21 victory over the strong Darlington Mowden Park side which comprehensively outgunned Tynedale 55-12 at home back in September.

The game kicks off at 2pm.