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2nd XV Fight Back From 0-13 Down, to Win by 14-13
Published: 02/02/2010
Driffield 14 Old Brod's 13
Again Driffield made last minute changes; With a prop shortage around the club, luckily Steve Watts stepped in from the fourth's for his first game in the 2nd's team and was superb all afternoon. Also coming into the side was Mike Bradshaw, Gary Lazenby and Rich Morley.
After 3 successive loses by a total of 11 points Driffield were determined to be on the right side of this score sheet and put there league season back on track.
Driffield started brightly playing into the wind with Butler, Morley and Lazenby clearing rucks, dropping on loose ball and tackling everything that moved. Unfortunately the 2nd's problem of retaining ball came back to haunt them and from two turnovers in the opposition's half Olds Brod's raced into a 8 point lead. After gifting Otley and Sandal all five of their tries over the past weeks again a lapse of concentration at the back gifted Old Brods there try.
Driffield began to turn the screw in the last 15 minutes of the half but a combination of good defence and poor passing let Old Brod's of the hook. Driffield were reduced to 14 men when a 30 man brawl broke out and the referee seemed unable to deal with the over aggressive nature of the opposition and sent a Driffield player to the sin bin.
This only fired Driffield up, and in the 2nd half driffield piled into Old Brods only for another turn over in Old Brod's 22 to result in a length of the field try for their outside centre. Driffield were now 13 nil down and looking down and out.
Then on came assistant coach Thompson to add much need experience and pace to his foreward pack, this also coincided with Chapman, Both Bradshaw's and Travis picking up the pace and running hard at the opposition.
Driffield were soon back in it, Mike Bradshaw burst through a ruck and hacked down field and Murray won the race to the line and touched down, Lucas converted and the score was 13-7 with 10 minutes left.
Driffield had learned from previous mistakes over the past fortnight and decided to play in the oppositions half, when Old Brod's were penalised a long kick to the corner resulted in a line out 5 meter's out. A great throw from Holland and take by Thompson allowed Hornby to organise his forewards, this resulted in Mike Bradshaw crashing over in the corner. Lucas looked at the wide angle of the conversion and duly called Chris Bradshaw over and he slotted it from wide out to give driffield a 14-13 lead.
The forewards duly closed out the match with some intelligent rugby and a hard fought win was secured.
Massive games from Butler, Morley and Lazenby and some great second half performances from Chapman, both Bradshaws and Thompson left me thinking if only we played for 80 minutes in games we would be a much better side and would be challenging Wharfdale and Otley.
Man of the match was Steve Watts for his never say die attitude against a strong Old Brod's front row and his little rabbit punch against his opposite number.
Hull Ionians and Home next week in the league, all support would be much appreciated.
Colin Lucas
