- 1st XV v. Sandal (H) – click here for the match programme
- 2nd XV v. Sandal (H)
- 3rd and 4th XVs – no fixture
- Women’s XV v. West Park Leeds (A) – Sunday
- Colts and Mini/Junior section : Registration Day – Sunday
The start of a new season seems to have come round very quickly yet again : I hope you all had a great summer.
Driffield 1st XV are yet again in a very competitive league which sees a few changes. We have lost Huddersfield who have been moved across to the West ; in turn, Kendal and Penrith have come over to the East. These are two teams that we have not played for a number of years. Harrogate return to the league and I am sure are favourites for promotion. We also welcome Middlesbrough who, I think, are having their first crack at Level 5 rugby.
This year also sees the return of play-offs at the end of the season. As always, not particularly straightforward, so I will not be trying to explain it in these notes. However it will guarantee excitement and make sure all teams have something to play for right up until the season finishes.
Pre-season has not been kind to us on the injury front : we lost skipper Simon Pettinger for the whole season after rupturing his Achilles against Bridlington. Ben Blacker, Owen Scurry, and Mathew Bowman have all been injured too so will not feature today. Sam Robson and Jack Sowersby are not available.
Ali Fothergill, who has joined us from Malton & Norton RUFC, and Finn Stych, who played for the Colts last year, both make their 1st XV league debut at full-back and wing respectively. Josh Stanyon moves to 12 with Joe Robinson and Gregor Napier as half-backs.
Oli Borman starts, yet again – his first senior appearance was in 1995, and this will be his 461st appearance for the 1st XV, and his 625th for the club – a fantastic effort. Former 1st XV captain Paul Dervey also returns to the match-day squad. Both Oli and Paul will add very valuable experience. It also great to have Alex Rowbottom back in the squad after his very nasty injury back in November.
The 2nd XV are also at home against Sandal. At the moment, the team is short of fixtures because a number of teams have dropped into the league below (their own choice) and Scunthorpe been allowed into the Notts, Lincs and Derby league structure, something that is not happening in Yorkshire at moment. We are trying to pick up as many friendlies as possible to fill in the gaps, but it is far from ideal. The side sees a number of Colts from last season making their debut which is great news for the future. Mark Blenkinsop steps into the skipper’s role (although he plays for the 1st XV today) so Jordan Young fills the role as captain.
A huge thank you to Andrew Megginson, as the main pitch is looking immaculate. I doubt there are many looking as well, at our level, anywhere in the country. I hope we can do it justice.
1st XV
- Mark Blenkinsop
- Dan Ramsden
- Henry Furbank*
- Will Robson*
- Oli Borman*
- Jack Webster*
- Rob Mewburn* (C)
- Harry Grant*
- Joe Robinson*
- Gregor Napier*
- Ben Styche*
- Josh Stanyon
- Robbie Rix
- Finn Styche*
- Ali Fothergill
- Paul Dervey*
- Tom Pick*
- Alex Rowbottom*
2nd XV
- Cooper
- Garbutt
- Culpan
- Jennings
- Warren-Lambert
- Rodmell
- Young
- Thompson
- Beckett
- Harrison, A
- Driskell
- Dinsdale
- Short
- Rivard
- Nalton
- Niznik
- Megginson, B
- Naylor
- Fenton
- Stephenson
- Taylor-Burks