The Foresters travelled to Driffield all too aware that their opponents would be worthy adversaries. Previous recent matches being close affairs, with the Greens being on the right side of the ledger on each occasion. Both teams having a healthy respect for each other ensured for an entertaining game.
Conditions were good and to add to the occasion there was a good crowd to watch 2nd play 3rd in the league table.
From the outset Driffield came to play their brand of rugby, keeping the ball and steadily making their way up the pitch. The Greens showed far more accuracy in their tackling this week and elected not to attack the breakdown. This pattern continued for sometime until the pressure, applied by Driffield, opened up a chink in Dale’s defence. This allowed the stand off to cross the white wash for the first score at 11 minutes. The try was converted to make it 7-0.
Dale had hardly touched the ball. However despite the try their tackling had been excellent with a number of dominant hits made, their hosts being made to work hard for any momentum.
Foresters hit back virtually immediately through a Josh Prell try,at the 14 minute mark, that was converted by Andy Rhodes. Score 7-7.
At 16 minutes stand off Andy Rhodes put in a well timed pass to open up the host’s defence and put Orson Hall through to score Dale’s second and make the score 7-14.
For the short time that The Greens had the ball, Dale’s direct running and pace was causing Driffield problems across the park. The Forester’s line out, led by captain Simon Borrill, was dominant on their own ball and caused problems for Driffield in securing clean possession to allow them to launch their attack.
Dale were beginning to get on top in the second quarter of the match. A 30 metre break by lock Jack Burton at halfway in the centre of the pitch set up a ruck deep in their opponents half. The ball was moved right by stand off Andy Rhodes who put debutant , Jimmy Howorth, away to make the score 7-21 at 36 minutes.
Prior to halftime Driffield scored from a penalty to take it to 10-21.
A reinvigorated home team then stepped up the pressure on the visitors. After a Dale yellow card they scored at 45 minute’s, taking it to 17-21.
A short time later they again scored making the score 22-21, at around 53 minutes.
Dale now composed themselves and despite being a man down took the game back to the hosts by scoring. Centre Josh Prell, attacking down the short side, cleverly drawing the defence on and giving a pass to Jimmy Howorth to score his second try of the day. (Score at 55 minutes 22-26)
Dale lost another man to the bin and were for a short period down to 13 on the pitch. Driffield took advantage of Dale’s depleted defence. From an attacking line out and ensuing driving maul they moved the ball from right to left. After a few phases they scored wide left after sheer numbers beat the Greens. Driffield had taken the lead for the third time at 58 minutes, the score now 27-26.
Wharfedale with 14 on the field took the restart, a short grubber kick in the centre of the field. The Greens managed to turn over the ball that the hosts had initially secured. After a couple of phases they found themselves about 25 metres out in the centre of the pitch. Driffield defensively filled the pitch but were short of a guard at the ruck. Recognising the short fall, scrum half Oli Bullock using power and pace burst through the under resourced ruck and ran in under the posts to score, the try was converted. 27-33 at 63 minutes.
With 15 players back on the pitch Dale started to apply pressure to their opponents and came close to scoring from mauls set up from line outs. The pressure eventually told and the hosts were penalised in front of goals. Dale sensibly took the points, taking the score to 27-36. Driffield now needed to score twice.
Good game management, defence and clever kicking repeatedly put Driffield on the back foot as they desperately tried to gain field position. As the game was in its final minutes they were awarded a penalty from which they scored 3 points to make it 30-36. A frantic last few moments was concluded by the referee when the ball went dead.
Both teams throughout the game played it in the right spirit, despite no quarter being asked for or given.
After the game Driffield awarded the man of the match to debutant Jimmy Howorth, playing in his first senior game
Next week the Foresters are at home, to host Billingham, runners up in last season’s final. They will provide another stern test .
Team: – 1. G. Altham 2. B. Patchett , 3 J. Hirst 4. S. Borrill (c) 5. J. Burton 6. Z. Heys 7. J. Fawcett 8. T. Beresford 9. O. Bullock 10. A. Rhodes 11. F. Walker 12. J Prell 13 O. Hall 14. S. Bennett 15. J. Howorth
Replacements: – 16. T. Whitehead 17. M Mountain 18. L Craven 19. W. Herron.