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Error Strewn Performance From Driffield
Published: 01/02/2010
It is difficult to conceive how badly Driffield played on a beautiful day at Halifax. Those Driffield supporters who made the long journey from the snow covered East Riding, must have been so disappointed with the fare served up at Hipperholme. Most of the good facets of the game were not apparent in this performance by Driffield. Simple things were not done, and at other times over complication was the norm, leading to frustration for both the players and even more so for the spectators.
After last week’s second half efforts, this was indeed sad. The catalogue of the errors that were perpetrated would take some time to list, but the major ones were these.
In the forwards, the scrummage was unsatisfactory, as on many occasions Brods were able to wheel Driffield, thus making heeled ball difficult for scrum half Gray to utilise, or even worse allow Brods to re-set the scrum and have the put in. Too many times ball was spilled in the tackle or a pass knocked on. The lineout was less secure than usual, as on a number of occasions the ball was thrown too long or crooked. Some useful rolling mauls were achieved, but taken in the end too far, when final quick ball could have been given to the backs.
Do not think, however, that the forwards were all to blame. The backs also had an off day. It is hard to take, that good players such as Wright, Birch, McGregor and Thompson, made elementary mistakes. Long passes to nobody, also losing ball in the tackle, and at times extremely poor kicking, particularly in the first half when they had the slope. Brods of course can take some credit for this, as they tackled well, unlike Driff on many occasions, and were always keen to snap up mistakes. As there were plenty, they thrived!
Driffield played with the slope to begin with, and the first score went to Brods, with no 8 Akroyd kicking a penalty. This was replied to by McGregor with a penalty under the posts. This also resulted in Brods centre Hartley receiving a yellow card for a deliberate offside offence which stopped a potential Driff try.
After 15 mins Driff moved the ball left, and McGregor made an intelligent loop move and gave a pass to A. McLarron. He had to go 22 M to the corner, which he did, taking a tackler over with him. McGregor failed with the conversion. The score stayed at 3 – 8 at half time, but there had been a number of penalties against Driff, and the referee had given a final warning to Captain Gray, that any more similar offences would result in a yellow card. Sure enough this happened and Wright spent 10 mins in the sin bin.
Brods now had the advantage of the slope and the low sun in Driff’s eyes. This they exploited much better than Driff had done, and when McGregor also was yellow carded, took advantage of having two extra men as well. Brods are expert on their own pitch, and Driff supporters knew that five point advantage was negligible. Akroyd soon had a further 3 points on the board from a penalty, and although Driff were playing a little better, Brods scored an excellent try on the right wing by Hoyle which was unconverted. This came from a turn a round at the scrum, but some smart handling made the try. 11 – 8
All did not seem lost, when Driff made a good but rare attack into the Brod’s half. John Dervey was prominent in this move but made the cardinal error of turning inside, attempting to score himself, with men outside. He must have been relieved when the ball was moved left, with for once a successful long pass to McLarron to score well out. Too far to convert. 11 – 13
The lead was short lived, and from one of McGregor’s breaks, he was tackled and then robbed of the ball. Tackles were missed and scrum half Gardiner broke to score under the posts and Akroyd converted. 18 – 13
There were plenty of mistakes by Driff now as they tried to save the game. Normally safe hands snatched at passes and everyone was trying to retrieve the situation and getting in each other’s way. Passes were slung forward and wide and Brods kept tackling and camping in Driff’s 22. Inevitably the break came by hooker McLoughlin straightening up onto a pass and going under the posts for Akroyd to convert again. 25 – 13
Changes came for Driff, Ollett for Birch with Wright to full back, Harrison for Stephenson and Maggs for P Dervey, but this did not help matters and towards the end Akroyd missed a penalty. Final score. Old Brodleians 25 – Driffield 13.
This score did not flatter Brods who deserved this win. Although both sides made mistakes Brods made less and in less critical situations. Driffield cannot complain, they got at times the rub of the green from the referee, and were their own worst enemy.
Gray was the best player for Driffield as he tried to rally his team, but he was not supported well. Too many elementary mistakes, such as poor kick offs in the second half, but the two flaws that were obvious were, poor tackling and losing the ball in contact. Food for thought for the coaches with two away trips to Sandal and Durham coming up. Let’s hope they had no spies watching, and Driff travel better in the future. Maybe the lack of bulk in the Driff pack could be enhanced by asking the Williams sisters to play.
Ian Douglas
