Saturday brought two sides with contrasting form together at Percy Road for the second local derby of Driffield’s season. The Woldsmen would have been full of confidence after last week’s excellent win against Morley, but a trip to Pocklington is always a formidable task, and so it proved. Missing captain Mewburn, Driffield fielded Turner in his place with Nellen returning at prop. Robinson led the side from scrum-half with Girking starting at centre.
Driffield made a fast start, with Brankley claiming the kick-off and weaving into the home defence. Driffield recycled, but the chance went begging when Pocklington intercepted. Unfortunately that would come to characterise the day for the visitors with Pocklington snuffing out many of the Woldmen’s most promising attacks. Pocklington went straight down the other end of the pitch and opened the scoring with a penalty. Pocklington 3 – 0 Driffield
After a frantic start to the game, Driffield would have been looking to settle down and exert some pressure. After winning a penalty, a good kick to touch from Furbank gave them field position. Dinsdale won the line-out and slipped a neat pass to Cullen who spotted a gap and shot into the corner to touch down, too far out for Watts to convert. Pocklington 3 – 5 Driffield
Brankley went down injured shortly afterwards, but it didn’t stop him making a break through the middle of the field and finding Cullen with an off-load. Pocklington infringed and Watts added three points to Driffield’s score. Pocklington 3 – 8 Driffield
Pocklington’s fly-half kicked intelligently all day and he found space behind the Woldsmen and put them under pressure close to their line. Driffield lost the line-out and Pocklington opted to scrummage. Things were looking ominous for Driffield with the heavier Pocklington eight putting them under huge pressure, but a knock on at the base allowed Driffield to clear.
Pocklington lost a man to the sin bin for a high tackle and from the resulting penalty, Driffield kicked deep into Pocklington territory. Pocklington pinched the line-out and cleared their lines. A quick line-out saw the ball moved to Dinsdale who showed his pace to get to within 5 yards. Robinson sniped from the ruck and extended the lead with Watts converting. Pocklington 3 – 15 Driffield
Robinson saw a yellow for a high tackle shortly after and, to compound matters, Pocklington’s pressure led to a converted try on the stroke of half time to narrow the gap to Pocklington 10 – 15 Driffield.
In contrast to the first half, Driffield started the second half poorly. A forward pass gifted possession to Pocklington and then poor discipline allowed them a shot at goal which they converted successfully to close the gap to two points. Pocklington 13 – 15 Driffield
Driffield hit back with their best try of the game. From turnover ball, Cullen attacked the blindside and linked with Brankley and Furbank. Good tackling chopped down Driffield attackers close to the line but skilful offloads saw a try in the corner by Turner, converted well from out-wide by Watts. Pocklington 13 – 22 Driffield
He followed that up shortly after with a penalty and Driffield led – Pocklington 13 – 25 Driffield
Ill discipline invited pressure onto Driffield with Pocklington playing to their strengths and driving line-outs or scrummaging hard. A scrum near the posts threatened the Driffield line, but desperate defence kept Pocklington at bay. Driffield did well to force Pocklington wide, but couldn’t prevent the try. Crucially, this was converted from touch to bring Pocklington within striking distance. Pocklington 20 – 25 Driffield
Driffield sought to hit back with a good backs’ move creating space for Blacker. He darted inside, and Driffield were recycling the ball before they conceded a penalty within scoring distance of the line. To compound matters, Dench was yellow-carded. Pocklington worked back up the field and set up camp below the Driffield posts. With scrum after scrum creating pressure on the Woldsmen’s line, Robinson saw a red card for a second yellow-card offence, before Pocklington touched down next to the posts to tie the score and give an easy conversion to snatch the win. Pocklington 27 – 25 Driffield