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What a Difference a Half Makes!!
Published: 24/01/2010
Anyone watching this game will wonder how a half time talk can make this amount of difference. The Driffield performance was transformed after the interval, they gained much more ball from their forwards and the backs looked very capable of scoring many tries. This, allied to Darlington also running out of steam, contrived to turn this game right round.
It was all Darlington in the first half, and they were on the score board after only 5 mins. A promising move going right ended with right winger Anderson scoring near the corner flag. One always felt he should have been tackled by Driffield, but persistent running made a good try which was not converted. Driff 0 – Darl 5.
The game continued to flow Darlington’s way, as they were dominating the possession and territory, with Driffield finding it hard to get out of their own half. The very odd chance did come Driff’s way, once when McClaren made a twisting run deep into the opposition half, only to throw a forward pass to backing up John Dervey. The only other chance was a straight forward penalty in front of the posts which Birch contrived to miss.
It was still all Darlington up to the interval, with fly half Baldwin kicking a good penalty and missing with a long range drop goal. The only bright feature during this period was a good rolling maul by Driff, which relieved pressure. As halftime approached, McLaren had a good run, but a penalty for Darlington again forced Driff back. However, on the stroke of half time, McLaren again set things in motion. He passed to Thompson, who off loaded to the ever alert Wright, who gave the scoring pass to Harding on the right wing. He was able to run behind the posts, but again Birch unaccountably missed the conversion. This score of Driff 5 – Darl 8, it has to be said was flattering to Driffield, but at least it gave Captain Gray something to talk about during the interval, and left the Driff spectators with at least a glimpse of hope for the second half.
Whatever Grey did say, it worked. For the Driff performance was transformed from then on. The forwards started to give good ball to the backs with space to move, and they did that with aplomb. Long attacking runs were the norm, with Gray, McGregor and particularly Wright, making incisive breaks. Gray’s long pass from the base was a great asset and it looked as though Darlington’s backs were in for a difficult second half. This proved to be the case, although they did still offer threats from time to time.
On 7 mins Birch scored a good try, which McGregor failed to convert, and for the first time Driff were ahead. Driff 10 – Darl 8.
A succession of good tries were then scored. Tom Wright scored by the posts for McGregor to convert. 17 – 8. Driff then made changes Waterhouse for Maggs at prop and young Mike Bradshaw made his debut for Oliver Cooper in the second row.
Later, Ollett came on for Birch in the centre with Thompson moving to full back.
The flood gates started to open, after Birch made a good break and second rower Rob Hamilton amazed everybody with his pace when he backed up to score after a longish run. McGregor kicked an excellent conversion. Driff 24 – Darl 8.
It was now McLaren’s turn to show gas and he scored on the left wing for McGregor again to convert well. Driff 31 – Darl 8.
There was time for two more tries. Wright made a sizzling break, which the ubiquitous John Dervey backed up to score, McGregor again adding 2 points, and finally John Dervey broke to supply the final pass to McGregor, who converted. Final score Driffield 45 – Darlington 8.
During the second half Darlington showed plenty of fight, but their only real chances were two penalties which they missed. Their pack was always a handful, but perhaps their lay off began to show in the later stages of the game, as their cover was shredded.
In the pack second half, Havler showed up well and there was a general appetite for work and tackling. Backing up was a feature from J Dervey, Beachell and Stephenson, who inspite of his slender frame tackled with gusto. The lineout was a good feature with J Dervey again showing how useful he is, perhaps staying airborne a little too long when the ball was slow being thrown in.
In the backs, it was a delight to watch their strong and elusive running, spearheaded by man of the match Wright. Not only is he very elusive and quick, but also does more than his fair share of tackling. One criticism of the unit, they at times do not make their touch from the boot when that is their intention, perhaps going for too much length. Mind you if you are going to miss touch I suppose it is best to be long!!
Some difficult away trips on less firm grounds await Driffield in the next few weeks, so the pack will have to give this second half performance from the word GO.
Ian Douglas
