On a very blustery afternoon, Driffield entertained Bradford & Bingley needing to get their league campaign back on track.

Playing with the wind, Bradford went straight on the attack pinning Driffield deep into their own half.  On the 7th minute the ball went wide quickly to the Bradford left wing who raced away to score in the corner – conversion missed.  Driffield 0 – 5 B&B.

From the restart Driffield forwards began to get the upper hand with Maling, Brankley and Jenkinson to the fore with powerful drives up the middle.  The Driffield scrum was also on top, driving their opponents off the ball.  From a scrum midfield, Brankley picked up and drove into the Bradford midfield the ball was recycled quickly.  Watts fed Jenkinson, who broke away down the right-hand side breaking tackles.  He fed Stephenson, who raced away to score – conversion missed.  Driffield 5 – 5 B&B.

With the wind at their backs, Bradford continue to kick deep into Driffield’s half and when, a Driffield forward went over the top, Bradford converted the penalty to give them the lead. Driffield 5 – 8 B&B.

The Driffield defence was outstanding, with Cullen, Maling and Jenkinson repelling the Bradford attacks.  From a turnover, the ball went out to Watts who raced away to outpace the Bradford defence to score near the post and convert his own try.  Driffield 12 – 8 B&B at halftime.

In the second half the Woldsmen used the wind well, keeping Bradford pinned into their own 22.  From a Watts’ penalty kick to the corner, the lineout was taken cleanly and Driffield forwards drove towards the line.  The ball was recycled and Jenkinson powered his way over the line, with Watts converting. Driffield 19 – 8 B&B.

Bradford forwards then seemed to come to life with strong drives into heart of the home defence.  Again the home defence stood firm.  The ball was turned over by Jenkinson who feed Stephenson – he raced through the defence making the 22.  From the breakdown, the ball went wide to Blacker who raced over in the corner to score – conversion missed.  Driffield 24 – 8 B&B.

Now deep into last quarter of the game, Bradford kept driving forward looking to get back into the game.  Again great defence by the Driffield forwards kept them at bay, now bolstered by the return of captain Rob Mewburn who came off the bench for his first game since injuring his neck and back.  The whole club was pleased to see him back.

In the last 5 minutes, the Bradford 10 chipped the ball over the defence, where it was gathered by a Bradford forward who powered over for the score.

In the last minute, Driffield were awarded a penalty, which was converted to make the full time score 27-15.

This was a great team performance by the home side with every player playing their part.  Special mention must go to the front row Rowbottom, Robson, Brumfield and Maling – all outstanding in the scrum . Maling, Brankley and Cullen
were all over the field in the loose. The stand-out player was Jenkinson : whose all-round game was outstanding.