Saturday brought the curtain down on the season with yet another local derby and a short trip to York. With only local bragging rights at stake, Driffield once again made a number of changes : Adamson and Barnard made their debuts, with Robinson at scrum half captaining the side.
Driffield kicked off playing into a stiff breeze, and were immediately on the back foot as York attacked the blindside, showing good pace. Watts made the tackle and Robinson was on hand to clear the ball into touch. Driffield pinched the lineout, but respite was short-lived and, with the ball lost, York went on the attack. Driffield’s defence held firm, but conceded a penalty and from a quick tap York opened the scoring with an unconverted try. York 5 – 0 Driffield.
York missed a chance to add to their score with a missed penalty, before Driffield showed themselves in attack. Running from deep, Driffield worked the ball to Adamson, who broke down the touchline before drawing the fullback and offloading to Turner. He was caught from behind and York snuffed out the attack. Driffield weren’t to be denied moments later however, with Zavatti touching down. Soanes tidied up scrappy ball from a lineout and got the Woldsmen on the front foot. The ball came out to Murray who sold a dummy and glided through a gap, before finding Zavatti who touched down near the posts for Watts to convert. York 5 – 7 Driffield.
York went down to 14 men with a yellow card for a high tackle and Driffield went back on the attack. Robinson scythed through the middle, but left his support behind and York won the ball and cleared their lines. This was one of a number of opportunities that went begging for the visitors and they were made to pay on the stroke of half time. With Brumfield having a spell in the bin, a missed tackle in midfield allowed York to stroll under the posts and take the lead with a converted try. York 12 – 7 Driffield.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Driffield would have been optimistic about overturning the 12-7 score line. But they made a slow start and were punished with a good York try. A clearing kick found the home full back and he returned the ball. A wide pass saw York through a gap, but the excellent Dinsdale hauled him down just short of the line only for a deft offload to find support and a try out wide, well converted into the wind. York 19 – 7 Driffield.
York were looking dangerous now, and a flat pass saw the home centre splinter the defence only for Ramsden to turn the ball over. This saw momentum swing a little and Driffield scored an excellent try with Robinson again at the heart of play, putting pace into the game. Murray found Dinsdale running an intelligent line and he took play to the home side’s twenty-two. The ball was recycled to Soanes and soft hands found Adamson who sent a wide pass out to Farnsworth to score out wide. Watts hit the post with the conversion. York 19 – 12 Driffield.
Driffield scored again soon after a long clearing penalty from Watts gave them field position. Brumfield found his man at the tail of the lineout before Murray brought the dangerous Adamson in from the blindside wing. Driffield recycled to Murray and he chipped through. The bouncing ball wrong-footed the home side’s defence and Soanes was on hand to score under the posts giving Watts the chance to level the score, which he duly did. York 19 – 19 Driffield.
Driffield looked dangerous whenever they put pace on the ball and a quick lineout gave Stephenson the opportunity to stride through the defence. Nellen carried play onwards and Driffield were awarded a penalty out wide leaving Watts a difficult chance to regain the lead. He has kicked well all year and this was no exception, using the breeze to bring the ball around and through the posts. York 19 – 22 Driffield.
With a frantic finish now ensuing, York turned down the chance to level the score with a penalty and instead opted to take a scrum. They were rewarded for their bravery with the last play of the game when a miss pass from their excellent scrum half gave the winger an easy try in the corner and with it the victory by 24 – 22.