Match report Sunday 13th December Friendly
Another cracking match played in near perfect winter conditions - cold, crisp and dry. Rishworthian's struggled to find a full team for the match with injuries and absences cutting the squad down 15 players and with no subs, they were up against it playing a strong, skilful Wharfedale team.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that this was likely to be a close game with Wharfedale slightly shading the first half and Rishworthians coming back into the match in the second half.

No points were posted for twenty minutes and despite Wharfedale playing a strong attacking game in Rishworthians half, the home team worked hard with the forwards playing well and the backs putting in the tackles when they counted.

Wharfedale finally broke the deadlock with a quickly taken penalty and a powerful forwards move to take the first try of the game which was well converted. Despite the setback, Rishworthians fought their way back into the game and good runs from both wingers, some good crash ball work from the centres and determined forward play kept Rishworthians threat alive with Collett coming close to driving over from a charge down by Ettenfield-Nann. At half-time, there was everything to play for with one converted try separating the teams.

Half Time: Rishworthians 0 - 7 Wharfedale

Wharfedale came out and pressurised the home team right from the off in the second half but Rishworthian's defensive work kept the visitors out despite a couple of close calls. With the ball in hand, Rishworthians posed a threat and having absorbed plenty of early pressure, they started to make some territorial gains. Once in Wharfedales 22, it wasn't long before a strong forward platform produced good ball for the backs and Watkins attacked the Wharfedale defence with excellent angles and crashed over for a well deserved try. Hunt-Brown stroked over the conversion.

At 7 points apiece there was everything to play for and Rishworthians came close to taking the lead from a penalty kick following an infringement at the breakdown. Equally, Wharfedale could have won it when their backs chipped over the top and came close to getting a touchdown.

Old Rishworthian's replied with a good break by Bottomley taken on by Ledgard who came close to adding the vital winning points but the move was called back for a knock-on in the tackle. Both teams played the rest of the half with a real determination to win and with nothing between them, the final whistle went to end an entertaining game by two well matched teams.

Final Score: Rishworthians 7 - 7 Wharfedale

Man of the Match: Forwards - J Hope-Collins; Backs - A Watkins

Click here to view Wharfedale website

Under 16's v Wharfedale Slideshow.
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Team
	1. Fowles	2. Smart	3. Pollard
6. Hope-Collins				7. Broadbent
	4. Ettenfield-Nann		5. Collett
		8. Seleznev
9. Kelly
	10. Hunt-Brown C
		12. A Watkins T
			13. D Watkins
11. Zientek				14. Bottomley
		15. Ledgard
Subs