Match Report – 21st December 2024

On a bright day in Driffield the Greens kicked off the last fixture of the year right to left with a strong westerly wind at their backs. Driffield proceeded to carry the ball back to Scunthorpe. 

After a couple of plays Driffield decided to kick the ball but this was charged down by Laurence Pearce and regathered by the Greens, 2 quick rucks saw James Dyson make a break, drawing a man before passing out to Lewis Talbot on the left wing to score in the corner. Conversion missed 0-5 (3mins) 

Driffield kicked off and the ball was collected in the air by the safe hands of Lewis Talbot, the Greens again quickly played through the phases but a dropped ball brought play back to an earlier off the ball infringement by Driffield. As usual the Greens kicked for the corner landing inside the Driffield 22. Line out won by Ben Hyde, a catch and drive saw James Dyson go over for a try. Conversion missed 0-10 6 mins. 

Once more the Green forwards from the kick off ran at Driffield before a long raking kick by Ethan Taylor put Driffield deep in their own half, with the only option of kicking for touch and this landing between the Driffield 10 metre line and 22. The ball was again won at the line out and driven on by the forwards into the 22, the ball then came out to the backs who played it along the line only for Lewis Talbot to be bundled into touch. The referee was playing an advantage and took the game back to where the infringement occurred. At the line out the ball was taken by Nick Dyson and driven on again by the forwards only for Driffield to infringe again a further kick for the corner saw the ball won once more a swift drive by the forwards dragging in the opposition saw James Dyson break from the back of the maul to touch the ball down once more. Conversion made by Ethan Taylor 0-17 12 mins 

Driffield kicked off and for the 1st time in the afternoon the Greens were unable to secure the ball giving Driffield their real 1st attacking opportunity in the Greens half, this all came to naught with them being penalised at the ruck for holding on. A quick tap saw the Greens win a couple of rucks before another monster kick with the wind by Ethan Taylor sending the ball deep into the opposition half. A knock on by Driffield at the line out saw the 1st scrum of the afternoon, this won by the home team but without much success, play zigzagged across the field for a further scrum to Driffield but a strong drive by the Green pack taking a ball against the head. The ball carried but lost before Driffield again kicked the ball for touch this was held up in the wind, but gathered by Ethan Taylor to feed Ethan Heath Drury who ran between 2 defenders before being caught only to off load for Josh Lugsden to pop a pass into the hands of the supporting Marcus Payne to score between the posts for a bonus points try. Converted by Ethan Taylor. 0-24 22 mins.

Play continued with Driffield now playing in the Scunthorpe half but eventually giving the ball up and Ethan Taylor using the wind to his best advantage. From a Driffield line out Will Robinson intercepts the ball only to be caught but the defender is penalised for not releasing the tackled player.  The ball again was kicked for the corner and from the ensuing catch and drive James Dyson gets his 3rd try of the game. Converted by Ethan Taylor 0-31 30 mins. 

Driffield then set about trying to get back into the game and pressed the Greens for quite some time in the Scunthorpe half, from a line out in the Scunthorpe 22 Driffield catch and drive to go over just before the half time break.  HT 5-31.

Driffield kicked off the 2nd half, this time with the wind behind them. This in itself pinned the Greens in their own 22 for a short period but after 5 mins an astute pass from Nick Dyson 2 saw Marcus Payne break out from the 22 and deep into the Driffield half, after an outrageous dummy he was caught but a swift ruck, saw a pass from Joey Mowbrey to Will Robinson and a long pass by him link up with Josh Lugsden who outpaced the Driffield defence to score under the posts. Converted by Ethan Taylor. 5-38 47 mins 

The Greens then started back to where they left off in the 1st half, camped in the Driffield half but for a few clearing kicks they stayed until a line out brought a catch and drive by the forwards this time the ball went across the pitch to Lugsden to score in the opposite corner. The conversion hit the inside of the post and bounced out. 5-43 59 mins. Changes were then made in the team with Laurence Pearce coming off, Elliot Saltmarsh coming into the back row and James Dyson moving into the centre.

The Greens continued in the same vane pressuring Driffield in their own half having been run ragged, Driffield being on the receiving end of 2 yellow cards 1 for a high tackle and the 2nd for continued infringements. After the 2nd the Greens produced a try by Ben Hyde. Not converted 5-48 67 mins 

From the restart Driffield knocked the ball on, resulting in a scrum to the Greens just inside their own half from the scrum the ball fed to James Dyson who again make a massive break before passing to Elliot Saltmarsh who was then tackled but a quick ruck and swift handling in the backs saw the ball reach Lewis Talbot who ran in a try at the corner. Conversion missed 5-53 70 mins 

Driffield, now back to full strength finally piled pressure onto the Greens and scored a try under the posts, this was converted. 12-53 78 mins

From the kick off Driffield gathered the ball and set off a lazy high tackle saw the Greens penalised in the Driffield half. A quick tap and through the hands for Driffield and some well executed 2 on 1’s saw Driffield score. Conversion missed. 17-53 79 mins 

There as a long delay for a injuries to Driffield players on the restart a Green scrum won the ball going to the right with Josh Lugsden who was tackled but made the ball available and a quick ruck brought the ball through the hands to Matty Mason running a fantastic line, cut through the Driffield defence and run in from the 22 this try converted by Ethan Taylor to make the final score Driffield 17 Scunthorpe 60.  A great performance by the whole team with 5 tries in the 1st half and a further 5 in the second.

MoM James Dyson.

A great way to end the year with a consummate victory against a Driffield side we had only managed to beat by a point at Heslam Park. 

Match Report written by Graham Migdalski