It is nearly a repeat of last weekend for Driffield rugby this weekend : the 1st XV head back to West Yorkshire, this time to face Cleckheaton, whilst 2nds, 3rds and 4ths are all at home.
After last week’s victory over West Leeds – the first time they have lost at home – our confidence should be high. The game at Leeds was a great advert for rugby at our level, with both teams looking to attack at every chance.
This weekend will be just as tough a test. Cleckheaton, currently 7th in the league, have always been tough competition. In the reverse fixture back in September, Cleck scored a last-minute try, and kicked the conversion from out wide to win the game 36 – 38. I should think Cleck would have been most people’s favourites for promotion at the start of the season. However, they haven’t had it all their own way. They have won 7, and lost 6. Their stand-out performance is their win at Malton & Norton, winning 41 – 24.
Last weekend Cleck travelled to our neighbours Bridlington : Brid won 29 – 5. Cleckheaton’s last 3 results: won at Malton 41 -24, beat Percy Park 31 – 27 at home and lost to Brid 29 – 5 Away.
A quick glance at the league table shows Morpeth still on top (52 points). We are 2nd (51) followed by Brid (47). But Brid have completed all their fixtures to date, whilst Alnwick have 3 in hand on them. Alnwick are currently 4th (44 points). Its far too early to start calling the winners and losers. There are some very tough games ahead.
Driffield continue with their good form, and things are starting to look up on the injury front. George Mewburn should return by the end of the month, with Ben Lawrence, Harrison Dodds and James Dinsdale not too far behind.
After last weekend’s performance, I imagine selection was tough on Tuesday. The only change being Gray returning to scrum-half and Robinson to the wing, pushing Watts to the bench.
Cleckheaton 1st XV v Driffield 1st XV, Sat 13/01/2018 KO 2.15PM
1 Zavatti, 2 Brumfield, 3 Waterhouse
4 Douglas, 5 Cooper
6 Cullen, 7 Mewburn R (c), 8 Burns
9 Gray, 10 Furbank
12 Dench, 13 Stephenson
11 Dinsdale, 14 Robinson, 15 Piercy
16 Watts, 17 Blenkinsop, 18 Borman
Again, if you can’t make it to Cleck, don’t worry as we will have a full club house on Saturday with the 3 other senior sides all at home.
2nd team continue in the newly separated league. Last week they narrowly lost to Old Brods, this week they host Cleckheaton 2nds. I’m sure it will be a tough game. The 2nd team league was split into 2 before Christmas, with the lower half and upper half. Driffield have finished in a league with Cleck, Old Brods, Ilkley, Huddersfield and York, so they play each other home and away. They also have a couple of friendlies arranged against Scunthorpe and Derby so their fixture list is almost full for the remainder of the season.
3rds Host BP Chemicals RUFC and the 4ths host Barton.
I hope everyone has great weekend and good luck to all those playing.