Morpeth RUFC are our guests today, travelling south for our North One East league match. Our fixtures against Morpeth are always tough encounters – last season we managed to win both games, winning 27-19 at home in December, we then travelled up to Morpeth and won 3-0, a great result. The season before our fixtures book-ended the season. We went North to open the season and lost 17-5, and Morpeth travelled south on the last weekend – we won that one 56-12.

Morpeth are having a fine to start to the season, currently sitting 3rd in the league, 4 points behind leaders Scarborough. They have lost just the two games so far.  Like us they lost at YMCA, 37-10; their first loss was away at Scarborough, losing 22-17. They have also played out a 16-all draw at York. Last week they beat Pocklington 17-10 at Morpeth. They started the season with a convincing win at Morley, finishing 22-35. In previous seasons, Morpeth have always started really well, and usually are in the mix for promotion around the half-way mark, but  they tend to fall away come the end of the season. We will see if the year is different.

Driffield need to bounce back after last week’s heavy defeat at YMCA. We raced into a 19-0 lead within 20 minutes, but then let in 50 points before adding our final try to make the final score 50-24 : match report here https://driffieldrufc.com/2018/11/25/huddersfield-ymca-50-24-driffield-saturday-24-november-2018/  YMCA seem to have their house in order this season, and look like they will be pushing for a top two finish. I have a feeling there won’t be many teams leaving Huddersfield with many points this season.

More injuries were picked up last week: Jackson and Dinsdale picking up knocks. Dinsdale has recovered to take a place in the second row. Better news with club captain Rob Mewburn making his return, starting on the bench but will be introduced at some point. Stephenson, Dervey and Borman also make welcome returns.

Last weekend the league had some surprise results. Leaders Scarborough welcomed Morley, Scarborough winning 50-17. Morpeth beat Pock 17-10, Bradford & Bingley beat Percy Park 31-18, In a Yorkshire Derby, Malton beat Brid 17-7. West Leeds recorded their 3rd win of the season beating York 35-29 and finally Consett got their 1st win, away, at Cleckheaton winning 37-39.

In the league, Scarborough and YMCA lead the way, Scarborough 43, YMCA 42, Still 10 points cover the next 8 positions, Morpeth, York, B&B, Percy Park, Malton, Brid, Morley and Driff. Cleckheaton and  Pocklington have dropped back a bit, Cleck sit 11th with 23, Pock 12th with 22, Then West Leeds on 18 and Consett still bottom, but now on 9 points

Some big fixtures around this weekend too, York travel to Brid, YMCA to Consett, B&B to Malton, Morley V Cleck, Scarborough travel to Percy Park and finally West Leeds travel to Pock.

Back to our fixture, a win for Driffield is a must today, if we want to pushing for the top positions come the end of the season we cant afford to drop further behind. As usual its looking like home wins are a must, and try and pick up as may away wins as possible.

Plenty of action around if you don’t want to watch the 2st team. Our 2nds head to Sheffield Tigers 2nds, 3rds are at Scunthorpe, 4ths games against Hessle has been called off, Hessle un able to field a side.

Our Ladies entertain Harrogate Ladies tomorrow in their league. This follows a great win a West Leeds a couple of weeks ago.

On Wednesday we have a touring side arriving from our colleagues at Southern Districts RUFC, Sydney. They have sent and U23 side across for a quick tour of the UK. We will be playing them on Wednesday night, at the floodlight pitch, KO will be 7PM. We also need beds for these lads and their coaches, if anyone can provide a bed or 2 for the one night please get in touch with the club.

Many Thanks, and good luck to all.