Driffield welcome Bradford & Bingley to Kelleythorpe for our North One East match.

Our last meeting with Bradford & Bingley was back on the 21st April, it was the last league fixtures of the season, Driffield needed a win to guarantee the play-off spot, Bradford required 1 point out their final 2 games to avoid relegation. Driffield won that day 33 -14, and Bradford got their point (a try bonus point) in a 27 – 36 loss to Percy Park. We wont talk about our Play-off.

So here we both are again, the season is settling down, just over a quarter of the way through the season already. Bradford brought in a new coaching team during the summer, with Ex Beverley player & coach Ant Posa taking the top role. They have had a steady start to this seasons campaign. They lost there first 4 games of the season, going down 33 – 53 when hosting Scarborough on the opening weekend, then 25 – 17 @ Cleckheaton. Then followed a 29 – 36 loss to YMCA at Bradford. Bradford then travelled to Morpeth, losing 22 -21. Bradford then got their 1st win when West Leeds visited, 34 – 19 followed by a loss at York the week after 34 -20. Last week Bradford came out on top in 55 – 27 win over Pocklington.

Driffield will be full confidence following our win in the derby against Malton. Driffield started strongly and should have been well ahead come half time, but we couldn’t find the final pass. We let Malton back into the game with a couple of soft tries, and that is all that is required in derby games like this. A win is a win, and it has us our 1st derby win of the season so far. This means we have won 4 of the last 5 games, and we are hopefully setting about climbing the league.

Bradford will be tough competition, last weeks win against Pocklington will have turned some heads. Following the game via Bradford’s twitter a/c. After 70 mins Pock had a slight lead 26 – 27. The Bees then scored 4 tries,3 con & penalty in the next 16 minutes that where played. Rumour has it they have also added a bit more depth to the squad in the last few weeks, to make sure they climb the league table away from those bottom 3.

We did the double over The Bees last season, they visited Kelleythorpe on the 1st weekend, we won 28 – 7, before the return fixture on the last weekend as mentioned above. We have played each other on numerous occasions throughout the years. Bradford climbed the league ladder as high as National 3 North, they spent 4 seasons at that level, before starting their drop down the leagues. They eventually stabilised in Yorkshire 1, winning that league with ease I 2015/16 season. Since then they have a mixed time in north one east. Pushing for promotion 1 season, fitting off relegation last.

League News: Some big scores around North One East last weekend, West Leeds got a much needed win at Cleckheaton, 31 – 34, YMCA had a great result when hosting Morpeth, winning 37 – 10. Morley smashed Bridlington (Brid sent a few young lads I’m told) 46 – 5, Percy Park beat Consett 48 – 21. And the match of the weekend has to go to the Scarborugh – York game. Scarborough winning 50 – 43. That result means Scarborough and York share top spot with 27 points. Brid are next 25, Morpeth 24, YMCA 23, Percy Park 21, then Pock, Us, Malton all sit on 17, followed by Bradford & Cleck on 15, West Leeds 13 and Consett bottom with 2 points.

This weekend, Morpeth travel to Brid, Consett host Malton, Morley Host Percy Park. A big game at Pocklington as they host Scarborough, West Leeds host YMCA and York welcome Cleck.

Our 2nd XV play Ilkley, whilst the 3rds play Hull Uni.

Team news to follow.

 

Good Luck to All.