The new league season kicks off this Saturday. We welcome York RUFC to Kelleythorpe, our 2nds travel to York and our Ladies have their 1st league fixture on Sunday.
For the second year on the bounce we open our league campaign with a tough match against York RUFC. Last season York started the season as an unknown quantity, but word was spreading that they could be one of the league’s favourites. It started very well for them : they won 5 out of their first 7 games. Then, like us, injuries started to hit them : they went through mid-season losing 6 on the bounce before they steadied their ship to end the last few games with wins. They ended the season in 6th place in the league with 40 points on the board, 2 places and points ahead of us.
Our head-to-head didn’t look good for us, losing both fixtures last season. With the fixtures book-ending the season, it meant the pitches would be hard and ideal for running, open rugby. In the opener, York won 22 – 23 – we scored in final minutes to cut the difference to the one point. In the return fixture York won again, this time 24 – 22 – again a tight game. I seem to remember Driffield had the lead for most of that game, but lost it at the crucial point. We were obviously two evenly-matched teams last season. Hopefully the same will be said this time, but with the results going the other way.
The league is looking as good as it ever has : Kendal join us from North West One after being relegated from North Premier last season. Moortown, Durham City and West Hartlepool all got promoted. Along with the rest from last season : Scarborough, Malton, Percy Park, Cleckheaton, Morley, Pocklington, Huddersfield YMCA, York and Bradford & Bingley. We have 3 have home games in September : Durham away next week, followed by the visits of Kendal, then Cleckheaton. These first 4 games could shape the season to come. Hopefully four wins will come.
Coops and Dench have been happy with the pre-season. Last week’s loss to Doncaster Phoenix was a good run out and the final score was 17 – 12 to Doncaster. We have had great numbers at training all summer which means we can select a strong squad for this opener.
Driffield 1st Xv v York RUFC 1st XV
1 – Nellen, 2 – Brumfield, 3 – H Furbank
4 – J Dinsdale, 5 – H Dodds
6 – Cullen, 7 – Mewburn (c), 8 – Brankley
9 – Robinson, 10 – S Furbank
12 – Girking, 13 – Stephenson
11 – Jackson, 14 – Davies 15 – Watts
16 – Robson, 17 – Soanes, 18 – Sowersby.
Our 2nds head to York for their 1st league fixture.
Ladies have a home league game on Sunday against Lincoln Ladies, KO is 2pm.
Good Luck to All