Driffield 33 – 32 Huddersfield : Saturday, 9 November 2024
The 1st XV welcomed Huddersfield, who they last played in 2014-15. The two sides have played 13 times since 1995, with Driffield taking the spoils on eight occasions – three away and five home. For many years Huddersfield made a good fist of playing at Level 4. This season they had put together a run of four good wins on the bounce before getting beaten at Alnwick last time out (not the easiest of places to go). Driffield were hoping to get back to winning ways, and needed to keep their unbeaten home record going to stay in touch with the teams at the top of the league. It would be another tight and absorbing afternoon of rugby.
Huddersfield started the day in fifth place in the league, and Driffield in eighth with two fewer points – click here to see the League Table
There was a late change to the side, when Joe Robinson was unavailable, giving a debut 1st XV appearance for Will Bradley on the bench.
Huddersfield kicked off, and went straight onto the attack. But solid Driffield kept repelling the waves of attacks, holding the visitors near the half-way line. Finally Driffield got the ball and advanced to 25 out, when they were awarded a penalty left of the sticks, converted by Murray with eight minutes gone – just the start Driffield wanted. D 3 – 0 H
Straight from the restart, Huddersfield launched once more at Driffield, being rewarded with a penalty 25 out, again left of the sticks. Fancying their chances at the catch-and-drive they kicked for touch in the left corner, but it was scrappy ball and the driving maul was not set. However, a Huddersfield forward muscled it over the line to open the account, with an excellent conversion from five in. D 3 – 7 H..
Five minutes later, from his own 22, one of the Huddersfield backs tore straight through the Driffield lines, making 60 meters without a hand being laid on him. A try looked likely but he was stopped with just ten to go. But Driffield infringed at the ruck in front of the posts, and Huddersfield took the three points willingly. D 3 – 10 H
From the restart, Driffield attacked and were awarded a penalty just outside the Huddersfield 22, which Murray again converted to narrow the gap. D 6 – 10 H
Huddersfield returned to attack, and made their way to the left corner of the pitch where, again, one of their powerful forwards made his way over the whitewash to score. The conversion struck the post and bounced out. D 6 – 15 H
It was now Driffield’s turn to press, making progress to the right corner, where Henry Hughes just made it to the line to narrow the deficit. The conversion was missed. D 11 – 15 H
Soon after the restart, from loose play just outside the Driffield 22, Scurry hacked through and set off after the ball, catching up with it fifty yards later. The ball was flipped left to the in-support Barr, who had a straightforward run-in well left of the sticks. The conversion was missed, but Driffield had got a narrow lead back against the run of play. D 16 – 15 H
This did not last long, when the visitors were awarded a penalty 25 out and left of the sticks, which they converted. D 16 – 18 H
With half an hour gone, and a tight score line, Sowersby left the pitch after a ‘stinger’ shoulder injury. Moments later, another penalty to Driffield, 25 out and dead centre, was converted by Murray to give Driffield the lead back. D 19 – 18 H
He repeated the task with seconds to go in the half, this time from 30 out on the left 15m line, to extend the lead at half-time. D 22 – 18 H
Driffield started the second half brightly, and looked the more threatening, rewarded with a penalty after just three minutes, which Murray added to his tally. D 25 – 18 H
This was followed by ten minutes of excellent harrying work, pinning Huddersfield into their own 22 which finally resulted in a Driffield penalty in front of the sticks and ten metres out, converted by Murray. D 28 – 18 H.
Falkingham then took to the pitch for his first game since January, and his presence was immediately felt. The Huddersfield scrum came under pressure, and the Huddersfield loose head was shown yellow, giving the referee the standard “Who, me, Sir ?” look.
With a man down, Huddersfield upped the tempo, and found a way in at the right corner having started over on the left of the pitch, and added to it with an excellent conversion. D 28 – 25 H
From the restart, they threw themselves at Driffield and pounded the lines for a full five minutes, finally gaining a penalty five out on the right side. The ball was kicked to touch, but Driffield won it at the line-out and were finally able to clear their lines.
With twenty left to go, it was all to play for, but the referee had become tired of the high penalty count by both side. First, the Huddersfield tight-head was given ten in the bin for a scrum offence, followed by Furbank just two minutes later. With 14 men each, Driffield managed to get up the park, allowing Blacker to find the narrowest of gaps in the left corner to give Driffield a two-score lead for the first time in the game and five minutes left. D 33 – 25 H
Soon after the restart, with Huddersfield attacking, first Falkingham was shown yellow and then Henry Hughes. Huddersfield checked the time remaining with the referee, and went for the scrum option against a depleted pack which gave them the bonus point try just to the right of the sticks. The conversion was good and the full time whistle went to the stunned relief of the Driffield support, and disbelief of those from Huddersfield, D 33 – 32 H
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