Driffield made the short trip up the road to play Scarborough in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup. Local derbies are usually a little unpredictable, so nothing was going to be taken for granted.
Driffield took the initiative from the off, mounting attack after attack, but Scarborough’s defence was solid and kept them out. On ten minutes, Driffield were awarded a penalty but the kick was missed.
They returned to attack and, on 19 minutes, Robinson crossed the line but the try was disallowed.
He got his reward ten minutes later, when Scarborough dropped the ball on the half-way. Robinson pounced on it and ran in unopposed, catching the Scarborough line off-guard. Watts added the extras. S 0 – 7 D
From the restart, Driffield dropped the kick and Scarborough attacked. Their progress was halted, but illegally, and Robinson was shown yellow.
Scarborough then had a succession of three tap-and-goes near the Driffield line, but were held up over the line and Driffield cleared.
Just after the half-hour, Driffield kicked a penalty to touch. The catch-and-drive was well-set and made good progress before the ball was popped to Adam Brankley on the 22 to charge through to the corner. Watts converted from the touch line. S 0 – 14 D
In the final two minutes of the half, Driffield nearly scored another two. First, Will Hughes was held up over the line following an excellent line break by Rix. Another followed, but the final pass was knocked on.
The half finished soon after when Scarborough kicked to touch. S 0 – 14 D Half Time
Scarborough started the second half brightly, and nearly crossed the whitewash but the ball was turned over. Adam Brankley broke from the try line to half-way. Support was up to continue the attack, finally earning a penalty in front of the sticks, converted by Watts. S 0 – 17 D
After the restart, Driffield won good lineout ball and Watts threw a long pass to Tom Brankley, who made good progress. When stopped, he flipped it inside to brother Adam who continued the attack. Adam returned the favour to Tom, back on his outside shoulder, and he went in at the corner. The conversion was missed. S 0 – 22 D
Scarborough were getting the measure of the Driffield pack by now, and shoved them off the ball twice in succession. Driffield responded with front row changes.
Half-way through the half, Scarborough finally got points on the board with a bizarre try. Driffield were attacking, when a loose pass bounced off Watts’ head. Mistaking it for a knock-on, one of his team-mates in front of him, and therefore off-side, picked the ball up giving away a penalty. Scarborough took a quick tap, catching Driffield off-guard and raced from half-way to score, converted. S 7 – 22 D
Drffield responded straight away when Rix pounced on a loose pass to race from half-way to the corner, but the conversion was missed. S 7 – 29 D
Just five minutes later, Ryan Murray was there after solid work to take the ball upfield, and crossed in the corner. The conversion was missed. S 7 – 34 D
Kyle Turner finished the scoring with four minutes to go, converted by Watts. S 7 – 41 D
This was a convincing display by the Driffield team, against a solid Scarborough defence, and takes them through to the final of Yorkshire Cup for the first time in the club’s history. They will play against either Cleckheaton or Goole (their match on 9 March was postponed) on Saturday, 18 May at Doncaster Knights’ ground.
Other results :
- 2nd XV – no fixture
- 3rd XV v. BP Chemicals (Home) won 32 – 22
- 4th XV v. Pocklington 3 (Home) lost 7 – 47
- Ladies 1st XV v. Crewe & Nantwich (Home) nn – nn