This Weekend’s Action, Sat 14/01/2023
Both 1st & 2nd team travel North to face Billingham RUFC, no game for the 3rds, whilst 4ths welcome Withernsea to Kelleythorpe.
1st Team:
A trip to league leaders Billingham this weekend for our 1st team. Billingham sit pretty comfortably at the top of Regional 1 North East, 15 points ahead of second place Alnwick. They have been living to their pre-season tag of league champs. Although they had a slip up last weekend when they lost Doncaster Phoenix 19 -17. That was only their second loss of the season, the first being at Alnwick back in September 23-20. In-between these two loses they racked up an impressive 11 wins on the bounce. They also have a 100% win record on home turf. They average nearly 40 points per game. In our first meeting this season at Kelleythorpe Billingham put in an impressive performance, winning 19 – 38. No doubt a big ask for the woldsmen to come away with a win, im sure they are up for it though.
Driffield come into the weekend following a terrific win against a very talented York outfit. Driffield started very strongly, but the York defence held strong. The yellow card to Mckinnon swung the game in York’s favour, scoring 17 un-answered points in the 10 minutes we were down to 14. Driffield managed to get back into the game with a couple of tries before the break, the supporters felt as though the first score in the second half could swing the game, that went York’s way. York having a big lead with only 8 minutes, Driffield supporters thought the game was done, however, the boys found another gear, coupled with York changes Driffield scored 3 unanswered tries and a last minute penalty kick won the game. A great effort from the Woldsmen.
The win sees us maintain 4th position in the league, 6 points ahead of Cleckheaton in 5th, 4 points behind Alnwick & Heath in 2nd & 3rd, Heath hold a game in hand over both Alnwick & us. Heath travel to York this weekend, Alnwick host Sandal.
A few missing this weekend, with Soanes, Mewburn, Brankley, Falkingham, Hughes & Grant unavailable or injured.
In the backs, Blacker moves to centre to replace Soanes, Scurry starts on the wing, with Short returning to the squad starting on the opposite wing. Watts moves to 10, with Robinson moving to 9. Sowersby starts in the back row along side Johnson & Jenkinson.
Driffield 1st XV v Billingham RUFC 1st XV, Saturday 14th January 2023.
1 – Pettinger, 2 – Ramsden, 3 – Mckinnon
4 – Gleeson, 5 – Turner
6 – Sowersby, 7 – Jenkinson, 8 – JOhnson
9 – Robinson, 10 – Watts
12 – Rix, 13 – Blacker
11 – Short, 14 – Scurry, 15 – Dinsdale.
16 – Murray (ry), 17 – Thundercliffe, 18 – Murray (rob)
The seconds completed the double – double over York last weekend with another good win, beating York 2nds 18 -10. They sit second in the Yorkshire Prem, behind the ever strong Wharfdale. In their 1st meeting with Billingham back in October, Driffield won 66 – 12, im sure tomorrows game will be bit tougher at Billingham. The seconds have a great mix of youth & experience at the moment, with the likes of Stephenson, Brigham, Brumfield, Blenkinsop, Furbank, Pratt & Dinsdale bring in the experience. Over 600 1st team caps in those 7 alone. It really is showing the rewards.
3rd team have no game Following a cry off from Marist, the 4th welcome Withernsea to Kelleythorpe, the 3rds & 4ths both had good wins last weekend against Scarborough 2nds & 3rds, making it our second full house of the season. Another great achievement by everyone involved.
Good luck to wearing Blue, black & White.