A tough test awaited the Woldsmen as they hosted Billingham RUFC – Click here for the full match programme.
It had been a while since we have played each other – 2009/10 in North One East, when Billingham won both matches : 64-20 At and 25-33 at Kelleythorpe. The season before, in North 2 East, Billingham also did the double : 43-15 at Billingham and 25-33 at Kelleythorpe.
Billingham started the game 3rd in the league, having won four and lost one fixture this season – away at Alnwick 23-20. Three wins at home against West Bridgford 57-10, York 24-14 and Doncaster Phoenix 31-3. Their away win came at Cleckheaton 7-49.
Billingham started well and were 0-3 up after just two minutes after a penalty given away in the 22.
Driffield responded well with a try by Brankley on four minutes, but the conversion was missed.
Things started looking positive on 12 minutes for Driffield when Falkingham burst through for another try, converted by Watts. 12-3.
But, by then, Billingham had got off the bus and started to turn up the pressure, scoring converted tries on 17 and 30 minutes taking them into the lead 12-17.
On 35 minutes Falkingham was shown yellow and just three minutes later Billingham capitalised when they got another converted try.
Half time 12-24
Just 4 minutes into the second half, and still with a man over, Billingham got another converted try.
It was another 19 minutes before they got another, stretching their lead to 12-38.
With ten minutes left, Jenkinson clawed one back, converted by Watts to make it 19-38, but the Billingham defence did not allow them through again.
In summary, Driffield’s attack could not match the speed and effectiveness of the Billingham defence. They compounded their problems by giving away needless penalties, often after they had made good ground, and twice for back-chat to the referee.
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