15:00 : Driffield KICK OFF against Alnwick
15:07 : Starting at the Driffield 22, Alnwick go through the phases to score right of the sticks, converted. D 0 – 7 A
15:15 : Penalty shot by Driffield from 30 out just wide.
15:19 : Repeat of last penalty, converted this time by Napier. D 3 – 7 A
15:26 : Great work by Alnwick from line out 15 out. Ball spun left to the centre, who goes through the gap to score under sticks. Converted. D 3 – 14 A
15:37 : Driffield penalty five out. Tap and go option nearly makes it, but the ball is dropped just short of the line.
15:44 : Driffield penalty shot from half way drops just short.
15:44 : HALF TIME D 3 – 14 A
15:51 : Alnwick restart
15:55 : Driffield break down right wing. Scurry off-loads to Ben Styche, who rides the tackle to score in the corner. No conversion. D 8 – 14 A
15:59 : Alnwick rumble over in the right corner to score. Conversion good. D 8 – 21 A
16:09 : Alnwick shown yellow for a tip tackle. Driffield kick the penalty to touch five out right. The ball is won and Ramsden burrows through from the tail of the resulting maul. Napier converts. D 15 – 21
16:13 : Alnwick penalty 7 out is converted to take the gap past one score. D 15 – 24 A
16:20 : Finn Styche breaks down the right side, breaking tackles to score in the corner. Napier converts. D 22 – 24 A
16:31 : Alnwick shown yellow for persistent offending.
16:37 : Driffield press the Alnwick line, and Bowman burrows in after multiple phases from close range to score the Bonus Point try. The conversion is missed, and the final whistle blows.
16:38 : FULL TIME D 27 – 24 A
Things never quite gelled for Driffield in the first half : playing with the wind, they did not convert opportunities into enough points, giving Alnwick a 14-3 lead at the half-way point.
The Woldsmen came out for the second half much-improved, scoring a brilliant interlinking team try.
Alnwick answered back straight away to pull out a 21-8 advantage.
Following a yellow card for Alnwick, Driffield maintained pressure scoring two more tries.
For the final five minutes Alnwick must have given away seven consecutive penalties. Driffield kept missing touch into the wind and repeatedly found themselves back in their 22 having to play out. But the penalties continued to come for Alnwick, another yellow card and Driffield were able to make the pressure and man advantage show with the final play of the game.
Alnwick had a strong team but the Driffield backs showed speed from distance to score some excellent tries. The Driffield lineout was poor at times, but the young pack stuck to their task and took on heavier opposition. It was a resilient performance and they never stopped throwing everything at the away team. The bonus point win is massive given the other results.
Alnwick will be disappointed, but Driffield missed a number of chances in the first half and deserved the result.
Other results
- 2nd XV v. Alnwick 2 (Home) Won (to be confirmed)
- 3rd XV v. Pontefract 2 (Away) Lost 24 to 14. Great effort – played the whole game with 14
- 4th XV v. Grimsby 2 (Away) Lost 40 to 28
- Women’s 1st XV v. Keswick (Home) Intermediate Cup