Driffield 8 – 24 Penrith : Saturday, 20 September 2025

Both teams have had the perfect start, and one of them was going to have to slip up here.  Penrith’s previous weekend’s result against Harrogate was certainly a statement.  The home support would be hoping for a home win following the monster bus trip by the visitors.

• 15:00 : Driffield kick off
• 15:05 : Penrith penalty 18 out and dead centre. Went for scrum option but held out by Driffield
• 15:07 : Penrith penalty 22 out. This time they opted to kick for touch
• 15:13 : Driffield clear from their 22 to get back into Penrith half
• 15:17 : Penrith try after penalty 7 out. Took the tap-and-go to score 10m. left of the posts.  Converted D 0 – 7 P
• 15:25 : Good attack by Driffield spoiled by knock-on in 22 in wet conditions
• 15:32 : Penrith grind their way up from Driffield’s 22 to score 10m. left of posts.  Conversion missed. D 0 – 12 P
• 15:35 : Driffield penalty on Penrith 10. Kick option converted by Napier D 3 – 12 P
• 15:41 : Penrith yellow card for high tackle.  Napier pulls the attempt left
• 15:42 : Half-time
• 15:49 : Penrith kick off
• 16:02 : Not much movement either way.  Driffield perhaps have the better of play and territory but no points to show for it
• 16:04 : Fothergill scores for Driffield mid-right.  Conversion missed D 8 – 12 P
• 16:07 : Robinson shown yellow in Driffield 22
• 16:09 : Penrith scrum 5 out, driven over the line for the try.  Conversion missed. D 8 – 17 P
• 16:17 : Penrith break down the left side from the Driffield 22 to score.  D 8 – 24 P
• 16:21 : Penrith dropped the ball over the try line
• 16:22 : Two penalties for Driffield in quick succession
• 16:25 : A third penalty for Driffield – tap-and-go was fed out wide but pass intercepted
• 16:35 : Penalty to Penrith kicked to touch half-way
• 16:33 : Full time D 8 – 24 P

Today’s game showed me that Penrith do the basics very well.  They used their heavy forwards in and around the ruck well, with a 10 who controlled territory.  The wet conditions either suited their style very well, or they played the conditions perfectly.

Driffield tried to play too much and to go wide too early : given the greasy ball and rain all game it didn’t work out.

Penrith scored two quick tries while Driffield down to 14 and then saw the game out from that point.

By no means a disaster : the better team on the day won.

In better news, the 2nd XV won 26 – 7 at Sheffield Tigers

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