Craven Herald Sport

Wharfedale suspend Baldwin for three weeks

10:52am Thursday 26th January 2012

Wharfedale have banned Rob Baldwin for three weeks.

The Greens’ skipper was sent off for “dangerous tackling” during the SSE National League One match at Bir-mingham & Solihull on January 7.

Wharfedale’s secretary Anthony Davies said; “It was a clumsy and reckless tackle but there was no malice and no injury to an opponent.

“He slid into the tackle situation to compete for the ball and in doing so made contact with a knee into an opponent’s back.”

It is now up to the Rugby Football Union to either ratify this punishment or alter it at their next disciplinary panel meeting.

Baldwin has already missed last weekend’s match at Ealing and will also be absent for Saturday’s home match against leaders Jersey.

The channel islanders will arrive at The Avenue to find a home side determined to reinforce their record, built up over many seasons, of interrupting the progress of star-studded visitors on their way to the Championship.

Subject to a fitness test on Dan Hart – with Andy Hodgson standing by to take over the 13 shirt and the captaincy – the Greens promote three of last week’s replacements.

Fly half Tom Barrett makes his first start for many weeks, hooker Ben Sow-rey switches with Steve Graham, and flanker Dan Solomi, who scored two tries at Ealing, replaces James Holland.

Wharfedale: Luke Gray; Scott Jordan, Dan Hart (captain), Tom Davidson, Simon Horsfall; Tom Barrett, Philip Woodhead; Joe Altham, Ben Sowrey, Tom McGee, Richard Rhodes, Joe Quinn, Aaron Myers, Dan Solomi, Richard Brown. Replacements: Neil Dickinson, Steve Graham, James Holland, Will Bell, James Tincknell.

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