Driffield 16 – 13 Blaydon : Saturday, 19 October 2024

The 1st XV welcomed Blaydon RFC on the annual Ladies Day at the club.  The two sides have played ten times since 1995, with Driffield taking the spoils on just three occasions – there has been one draw.  Last season they shared the honours, losing 25-30 away and 21-5 at home.

Blaydon started the day in eighth place in the league, just one place below Driffield – click here to see the League Table.  Click here to see the team.

The three away games this season have only delivered three points : all going against Driffield in the last plays of the game.  These are fine margins, and all games have been encouraging performances – each could have gone Driffield’s way.  It just shows how close the league is going to be.

The side for the match was very similar to last week’s. Kyle Turner came back into the squad enabling Jack Sowersby to get some game time with the 2nd XV.  Joe Robinson got a run-out at scrum-half, with Ben Blacker making his first start on the wing.  Gregor Napier moved to the bench – it is good to have him back, having played all his junior rugby at Driffield before going to Sheffield University and playing at Sheffield for the last few seasons.

Blaydon kicked off and immediately took the fight to Driffield’s 22.  With less than two minutes gone, Blaydon were awarded a penalty 30 out, and kicked for touch in the left corner.  The catch-and-drive seemed likely, but the ball was not secured and Driffield won it back.

They didn’t keep it for long, and the ball was spun wide left, where the Blaydon winger tore down the sidelines to score after just four minutes.  Conversion missed.  D0 – 5B

From the restart, Driffield pressured Blaydon, and were rewarded with a penalty 15 out, to the right of the sticks.  Stanyon converted to close the gap.  D3 – 5B

Most of the rest of the half would be spent with Blaydon camped in the Driffield half, battering the defensive lines looking for a weakness.  With 13 gone Driffield were penalised, and Blaydon again went for the kick to the left corner.  This time they did secure their own ball, but the catch-and-drive was stopped.

Six minutes later Driffield infringed again, 25 out and left of the sticks.  Having failed with the kick to touch approach, this time they decided to secure the three points with a solid kick.  D3 – 8B

Just after the half hour, and another penalty against Driffield, Blaydon kicked for the right corner this time.  Once more, the catch-and-drive was held up,

Still camped in Driffield’s half, from a Driffield line 25 out, a loose ball was hacked through by the Blaydon scrum half, catching the Driffield defence flat-footed.  He won the race to ground the ball just before it crossed the dead ball line.  The conversion was missed.  D3 – 13B

The half time whistle blew soon after.

With the sun and the light breeze now at their back, Driffield started more brightly in the second half and threatened more.  Now it was Blaydon’s turn to defend, and did a great job for long periods.

Finally, Driffield were awarded a penalty outside the 22, and kicked to touch in the left corner.  The catch-and-drive was halted, the ball spun out wide right, but there was no way through. and the attack was repelled.

With a little more than ten minutes remaining, Driffield were awarded a penalty just inside the 22 in front of the sticks and, this time, decided to bank the points.  Stanyon converted.  D6 – 13B

Just two minutes later, and only just five meters further back, the same happened.  Again they decided to bank the points.  Stanyon converted.  D9 – 13B

With less than five minutes on the clock, and Driffield battling to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, for the first time and seemingly out of nothing, Driffield found the slightest gap in the Blaydon line 25 out on the right.  Scurry sniped through it, cut inside and made twelve meters forward progress before finding Will Hughes.  He powered through from 15 out, despite despairing tackles, to score under the posts to the noisy delight of the Driffield support and the disbelief of the Blaydon contingent.  Stanyon converted.   D16 – 13B

All Driffield had to do now was keep hold of the ball, and let the clock tick away without making any mistakes.  The final three minutes seemed to last for much longer, but the final whistle blew with Driffield snatching the points.

This was a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card for Driffield, and came out of their belief that a game is not lost if you keep trying until the last whistle.  For Blaydon, it would be a long ride home.

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