1st XV travel to Pontefract RUFC, 2nd XV welcome Sheffield Tigers RUFC. The ladies host Kendal Wasps Ladies on Sunday.
Our 1st XV continue their league campaign with a tough fixture at newly-promoted Pontefract RUFC.
Pontefract were promoted as Regional 2 North East champions, beating Moortown by 1 point, they won 18 out of 22 games, averaging 30 points per game.
Pontefract have made a steady start to their first season at this level : they started with a narrow loss at Blaydon 29-24, won at home against Cleckheaton, 51-29. And lost at Doncaster Phoenix last weekend, 14-10. They now sit in seventh place in the league.
From what I can see, it has s been a while since we faced Pontefract in a league match. We faced each other in Yorkshire one over two season’s back in 2011/12 and 2012/13. We won both fixtures in the 12/13 season whilst Pontefract won both fixtures in the 11/12 season.
The league is looking as tight as we thought, with Doncaster Phoenix the only 100% win record top the league, followed by Heath, Harrogate and York all on 11 points. Driffield sit 6th with 10 points. At the bottom, and & Sandal are yet to record a win : Cleck sit bottom as they have only picked up 1 BP, compared to Sandal’s 3.
Driffield recorded their second win of the season last weekend, beating a stubborn Scunthorpe side 30-20. For the majority of the game, Driffield couldn’t manage to break Scunthorpe, and heading into the last quarter the match was still in the balance. A red card to a Scunthorpe player, and Driffield upping the tempo, meant we scored a couple of quick tries to record a 10 point win. I am sure Scunthorpe will be smarting at not recording a BP.
A few changes in the squad once again. A re-shuffle in the backs sees Rowbottom move from wing to full back, Short starts on the wing after his hat-trick last weekend. Brankley, A Starts in the centres along side Blacker, Brankley, T. starts on the wing. Grant and Sowersby resume their 9-10 partnership. A few changes in the forwards : Pettinger starts at hooker, along side MacKinnon and the returning Thunderclife. Grant and Hughes, H make up the second row, with Hughes, W and & Johnson start as the back row. A strong bench with Falkingham, and & Furbank. A strong side.
The second team have a tough game as well this weekend, as they welcome Sheffield Tigers 2nds to Kelleythorpe, 3pm KO.
3rds and 4ths could not pick up any fixtures so have a week off.
The Ladies continue in league action on Sunday, as they host Kendal Wasps Ladies. The ladies started the league campaign with a loss at Sefton Ladies last Sunday. They gave their all, but maybe suffered from a lack of warm-up games, meaning they felt a little under-cooked for their league opener. Final score Sefton 55 – 5 Driffield.
Driffield RUFC 1st XV Team sheet
- McKinnon
- Pettinger
- Thundercliff
- Grant H
- Hughes H
- Hughes W
- Mewburn
- Johnson
- Sowersby
- Grant K
- Brankley T
- Brankley A
- Blacker
- Short
- Rowbottom
- Robinson
- Falkingham
- Furbank
Good Luck to all in Blue, Black & White