Wharfedale 62 Canterbury 12

A WEAKENED Canterbury rugby line-up crashed out of the EDF Energy Trophy 62-12 at home to National League 2 side Wharfedale on Saturday.

After leaking 45 unanswered points the city club won respect from their Yorkshire visitors with an improved second-half display.

Canterbury, with their National 3 South campaign taking priority, played three teenagers, and had to make late changes caused by illness and injury.

By half time Wharfedale had claimed seven tries but Canterbury came out with fresh resolve and 12 minutes into the second half Mike Melford seized on fly half Simon Foster's pin-point kick to score at left corner.

Later in the game replacement Gert de Kock's kick and chase earned a prime attacking position and from the line-out Zoltan Koller burrowed over after a second surge. Dave Dorton's touchline conversion was another defiant gesture.

Wharfedale scored the final try to emphasise their dominance with effective and entertaining rugby.

Wharfedale scorers were Chris Malherbe (2), Mark Bedworth (2) Tom Ball (2), Oliver Renton, Adam Whaites, Rob Baldwin and David Lister. Bedworth kicked six conversions.

Head coach Danny Vaughan said: "We never gave up against a good team and I now know much more about some players who have never performed at this level before."