The 2022/23 season started with newly promoted Driffield visiting unknown opposition Paviors RFC.
Paviors had a big set of forwards which Driffield are used to from previous seasons in North 1 East, it was their forwards that opened the scoring on 5 minutes when they drove over from a 5-metre lineout, the conversion was missed.
From the restart Matthew Jenkinson made a fantastic break from the halfway line and almost made it to the try line himself, beating 4 would be tacklers on the way, he was brought down a couple of meters before the try line where he offloaded to the supporting Tom Sowersby who went over the line unopposed under the posts. Ben Dinsdale added the extras to make the score Paviors 5, Driffield 7 inside the first 10 minutes.
5 minutes after Driffield took the lead, Paviors once again used their big forward pack to score a converted try from a rolling maul.
With the score at Paviors 12, Driffield 7 – the game then became scrappy for the next 20 minutes, with a mixture of handling errors and penalties given away. Driffield were defending well with good tackles from Jack Sowersby and Kyle Turner keeping Paviors at bay.
From a ruck infringement by Driffield, Paviors fly half kicked a penalty to increase their lead to 8 points with 5 minutes to go before half time.
Like the previous scores, this seemed to kick Driffield into gear and Rob Rix cut a great line and weaved his way through the scrambling defence from 40 metres out, Ben Dinsdale could not add the conversion with Driffield bringing the score back to Paviors 15, Driffield 14.
Unfortunately for Driffield, Paviors fly half scored a converted try with the last play of the first half as he went past his opposite man and scored under the posts, this made the half time score Paviors 22, Driffield 14.
Driffield started the second half well scoring 2 tries within the first 10 minutes. The first a close-range effort from the tireless Jack Sowersby which Ben Dinsdale managed to convert. The second try came from Ben Dinsdale following good forward play and slick hands in the backs allowing him to go over which he also converted. These two tries gave Driffield the advantage and the scores were Paviors 22, Driffield 26.
The next passage of play saw a great take from the kick off by Finn Warren-Lambert where the ball was recycled and worked to Ryan Murray who struck a well judged 50/22 kick deep into the Paviors 22 to give Driffield the lineout. From the lineout, Driffield went through numerous phases until Ryan Murray broke the line and offloaded to Jack Sowersby who went over for his second of the game. Ben Dinsdale again converted, and the scores were Paviors 22, Driffield 31.
Much like the first half, the game went into a period of pressure from Paviors which tested the Driffield defence, it held firm until Dan Ramsden was sin-binned for a high tackle. From the penalty Paviors kicked to the corner and once again rumbled over the line through their forwards. The try was converted bringing Paviors back within 2 points of Driffield.
There was time still for the kick off, however Paviors knocked the ball on, and after the resulting scrum the ball was kicked out and the game ended Paviors 29, Driffield 31.
Driffield will be delighted to get a bonus point win in their first game of the season. The backrow of Jenkinson, Turner and Warren-Lambert were outstanding. Tom Sowersby had a great game at scrum half and brother Jack was the standout man for the Woldsmen, scoring 2 tries and tackling anything that came near him.
A solid start to the season, and with half a dozen 1st team regulars available next week everything is looking positive for Sandal visiting Kelleythorpe on Saturday.