Saturday was going to be a tough afternoon against Doncaster Phoenix, who are fighting to stay in the league. You can see the full match programme here.
As usual, the team had a few changes :
- Harry Grant and Henry Hughes made up the second row
- skipper Adam started at number eight
- Jack Sowersby started at open side
- Kalani Grant started at nine
- we welcomed back James Watts at full back.
Doncaster kicked off, and Driffield gave away a penalty just outside their own 22. Doncaster kicked for touch, and a catch-and-drive was on. But they failed to take it cleanly, the ball was lost and Driffield cleared their lines.
But Doncaster brought it straight back into the Driffield 22, and camped there for five minutes.
Finally, with 11 minutes gone, Driffield broke out of their own half for the first time. A penalty was awarded just short of the Doncaster 10, and Kalani Grant successfully kicked for touch five out.
The Driffield throw-in was tapped back by Doncaster, but Ramsden was alert to it and burst through to ground it for the opening try. The conversion was missed. D 5 – 0 DP
Doncaster returned to the attack, and pinned Driffield back. When Driffield did manage to win some possession, they rarely got past the Doncaster 10.
But, on one occasion when a penalty was awarded on the Doncaster 10, Kalani Grant quickly tapped and went, catching the defence napping, and raced through unopposed to score just left of the sticks, and converted his own try. D 12 – 0 DP
With ten minutes to go in the half, and Doncaster again camped well into Driffield territory, they lost possession. Perhaps out of frustration, a Doncaster back row decided to take it out on a Driffield player in full sight of the referee, and was given his marching orders.
Now playing against 14, Driffield made more ground. From a line out on the right side 25 out, the ball was moved down the line to Kelly, who galloped through to score to the right of the sticks. Kalani Grant converted to make it D 19 – 0 DP at HT.
Early in the second half, Driffield were now bossing the tight. On one occasion, an eight-man drive made 10 yards, before the scrum spun right, and the ball was released. After several phases, Adam Brankley crashed through from a yard out to score the bonus point try, injuring his shoulder in the act. Kalani Grant converted. D 26 – 0 DP
It looked like the taps should open, but a man-short Doncaster were not down yet, and took the fight to Driffield, camping in their half. Finally, from solid work in the Driffield 22, they found a way through to score, and converted. D 26 – 7 DP
It would be half-way through the second half before Driffield again threatened to score when they were finally back in the Doncaster 22. Keeping the ball alive and going through the phases looking for a gap, it fell to Rix to power his way down the right of the pitch, and ran round to score near the sticks. Kalani Grant converted to make it D 33 – 7 DP
Once again, Doncaster rose to the challenge and, out of almost nothing, worked the ball left and broke down the wing. The ball was popped back inside with ten to go, and the score made and converted. D 33 – 14 DP
The final 15 minutes of the game became scrappy and, with both teams frustrated by their own handling errors, they each gave away yellow cards for dissent.
The game fizzled out, with Doncaster having done a great job to stay in the game with maximum effort.
Other results :
- 2nd XV v. Sheffield 2 (Away) lost 5 – 31
- 3rd XV v. Malton & Norton 2 (Away) lost 19 – 39
- 4th XV v. Malton & Norton 3 (Away) lost 0 – 39