Old Albanian’s victory song rang out for the first time this season after they beat Wharfedale 31-7 at Woollams Playing Fields.

Five minutes earlier Sam Lunnon had linked up with Jimmy Spiers and cantered 40 metres to score OA’s bonus-point try and cap off a near faultless performance from Andy Holloway’s charges that halted an eight-game losing streak.

This was a win built on defence rather than attack. Time and time again OAs forcibly met Wharfedale at the gain-line and repelled them. Man of the match Nick Stevens set the tone on Wharfedale’s first possession as he forced a turnover in the breakdown on OA’s five-metre line. Even the visitors’ best weapon, their rolling maul, was ineffective against OAs’ forwards.

Ross Hamilton darted over to open the scoring before Wharfedale replied with a penalty try.

After the game Holloway said training had focused on attack in the build up to the game and it came to fruition in the second half.

Richard Gregg kicked three points to put OAs back in front and they then scored an penalty try after Jimmy Spiers had taken two defenders over the line but the ball was held up.

Captain Billy Johnson dotted down near the posts after an initial break from George Perkins to put his team 24-7 up.

Ollie Cooper-Millar underpinned his side’s defensive dominance by delivering the kind of hit that swings momentum in games to thwart a Wharfedale attack. Howover, with OAs in control it served to deflate the visitors even more. And their miserable afternoon was complete when Lunnon completed a five-point win for OA’s with their fourth try.