Scunthorpe 12 – 14 Driffield : Saturday, 16 December 2023

On paper, you would think this would be a straightforward job, given both teams’ relative table positions.  But Driffield had to work hard to eke out a 30 – 20 win at Kelleythorpe earlier in the season.  Also, no games can be taken for granted in this league.

Driffield started brightly enough, earning a penalty on five minutes, but the attempt went wide.

It would be another twelve minutes before the next opportunity to score, this time to Scunthorpe.  The stand-off found a gap and went through, but the conversion was not made.  S 5-0 D

On the half-hour, both sides lost a man to the bin.  Driffield were given the penalty and the chance to narrow the gap.  But, again, the penalty attempt went wide.

Just two minutes later, Scunthorpe were awarded a penalty try for a technical high tackle in the red zone, stretching their lead,  S 12-0 D Half Time

Five minutes after the restart, Adam Brankley made up for his earlier yellow card by scoring a try, converted by Kalani Grant.  S 12-7 D

It would be a full twenty minutes later before further scoring, when Hughes found his way through for the try, again converted by Kalani Grant.  S 12-14 D

With a minute left in the game, Driffield were awarded another penalty but the attempt went wide.

In the dying seconds of the game, Scunthorpe looked as though they might snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when they were awarded a kickable penalty.  With their hearts in their mouths, the Driffield contingent saw the ball narrowly miss the sticks. S 12-14 D Full Time

With Harrogate losing to Ilkley, York extend their lead and Driffield close the gap to Harrogate to just one point.

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