Saturday promised to be a great day of sport, for me anyway; England v South Africa (cricket), Leeds against WBA (football, both on the telly) and I’s v Wharfedale. So, at 9 o’clock I sat down with a cup of tea and Sky sports. By half ten I was outside dressing second hand bricks from a dilapidated garden wall. Batsmen? Battered! what a bloody shower! Predicably, England went on to lose.

By lunch time I was back in front of the screen to watch a game of association football. United earned a draw, unable to hit the heights of recent performances, to remain at the top of the Championship, just in front of Sheffield United.

There was only Ionians left to provide a win that I was hoping for. It was off to Brantingham Park to see if they could oblige.

Oblige they did. It was an industrious performance, workman-like rather than wonderous but they showed an application absent in the cricketers (Joe Root honourably excepted) and also proved it wasn’t how much ball you have but what you do with it that matters.

Wharfedale always pose a significant challenge and so it proved on Saturday. The “green machine” monopolised possession in the opening quarter, retaining the ball as they chugged along through short range drives from the forwards and the occasional battering charge from centre Oli Cicognini.

Ionians coped admirably in defence but it was hardly entertaining and the scoreboard remained untroubled even as the half hour approached.

Just as Ashley was becoming agitated Ionians sprung to life. An attack from ‘dale broke down and Ionians recovered the ball. It went through a couple of pairs of hands before being booted into acres of space. Alfie Celella went haring after it, hacked it on and won the race to touch down. Not, unfortunately, to the satisfaction of Mr Moorhouse, who signalled a knock on in the grounding.

It was only a short-lived reprieve for the visitors. With a solid set-piece and the tireless work of the back-row in the loose, the home side were getting more possession, and they made it tell.

Ionians won a line-out and quick ball away from the breakdown gave Lewis Minikin the room to cut through the midfield, he drew in the covering defence before popping a pass to Cam Burnhill who crossed close to the flag. Minikin converted from out wide to break the deadlock, 7 – 0 to Ionians after 35 minutes.

Unforced errors from both sides prevented a lively game from becoming overly entertaining, though the hosts finished the half with another excellent piece of rugby. From the base of a ruck Sam Pocklington set play away up the stand side touch, Josh Britton took the ball into contact, he had support from the forwards and as they piled ahead a pass found Cam Burnhill, who brushed past the first line of defence, before he picked out Pocklington free on his inside. Sam needed no second bidding and he raced clear to score. Lewis Minikin added the goal for Ionians to take a 14 point advantage to the break.

Both sides had committed a litany of infringements through-out the first half and continued in similar vein into the second period. From a penalty in front of the ‘dale posts, comfortably within the 22, Ionians elected to take a scrum. The ball was spun right and up popped the ubiquitous Burnhill to glide over for his second try. Minikin added the goal to stretch the lead (and extend his impressive seasons tally). Ionians were 21 points to the good.

After delivering a warning regarding the increasing number of penalties Mr Moorhouse took action and sent the overly aggressive Ben Smith to the bin for committing a high tackle. The loss of Smith’s physical presence was felt immediately, as the green machine rumbled over line for a try, grounded by replacement Ben Blackwell, who had only recently come onto the pitch. Rob Davidson tagged on the extras to give Wharfedale 7 points and hope of getting back into the game.

Unfortunately for them Louis Verity soon joined Smith for a breather and Minikin punished the transgression with three further points to the hosts. Ionians were leading 24 – 7 just after the hour mark.

The penalty awards kept coming, mostly benefiting the visitors, and they put pressure on the Ionians line. Using the defensive resolve honed on Dore moor Ionians emerged unscathed.

That was until the final minute, when Wharfedale produced their best passage of play. The pack drove the ball to the edge of the 22 before it was spun smartly across the field, with some intricate handling creating a gap for Harry Bullough to race into and he outpaced the cover to score. It was too far out for Davidson to add the conversion and Ionians made it to the whistle to record three wins on the bounce. It was by far the best result of the day.