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Improved performance brings bonus point win
Driffield took the field with a much changed side from last week. Kitching went into the centre for Ollett who replaced Bell at scrum half. Lucas came up from the second team at fly half.
Reilly was injured and Havler made up the back row with Hamilton and Beachell. Tatham-Brugh was injured in training and replaced by Paul Dervey and Whitfield came in at hooker. The bench was John Dervey, Mitchell-Williams and Bell.
The news had broken that Bone was no longer coach and replaced by stalwart Driffield man Paul Sellar. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde’s Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest – ‘To lose one coach may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness!!’ However the team gave Sellar a good win.
The first 17 mins were all Ilkley’s. Driffield were under siege and could not get a foothold out of their half. During this time Waterhouse was yellow carded, which did not help matters. Second row Stafford gave a good pass to left wing Kirby. He went in the corner, as the Driffield defence had been outflanked. Fly half Howell missed the conversion. D 0 – I 5.
At last Driffield started to attack, after their usual slow start. Lucas gave a good pass to McClarron who made ground but was thwarted. On 25 minutes the ball was moved left by the backs and Smith, up from full back, made the try, but Kitching could not convert. Five mins later Ilkley were back in the lead with a Howell penalty for offside at a ruck. D 5 – I 8.
Ilkley were still putting pressure on the Driffield line, but good tackling kept them out and Kitching was on target with a penalty to make it 8-8. Just on half time Ollett made a fine break from the base of the scrum and in spite of a high tackle made the scoring pass to the ever alert Havler, who had backed up well. Kitching converted. D 15 – I 8.
The second half started with Driffield in sharper mood and at times their backs looked very dangerous in broken play, particularly Kitching who nearly sent McClarron in.
Turton then received a yellow card for kicking the ball when in the hands of the opposition, but this was evened out when Ilkley also lost a man to a yellow card.
Fly half Lucas then picked up a ball off his feet and sent Smith off. He sent a good pass out to McClarron. He had a couple of men to beat but went round near the posts to score which was converted by Kitching. D 22 – I 8.
The confidence was back and this was demonstrated when Beachell made a strong run from distance to score and Kitching converted this bonus point try. D 27 – I 8.
A further try was scored when Lucas gave a scoring pass to Kitching who also converted. D 34 – I 8.
Driffield made the changes – John Dervey for Hamilton, Bell for Ollett, who moved to centre for Grant and later Mitchell-Williams for Whitfield.
Ilkley then came into the game and scored two good tries via centre Monks and captain and full back Vincent, the last one being a particularly good flowing movement. The last try was converted by Howell. Final score D 34 – I 18.
Some good rugby was played by both sides, and Ilkley showed that they were adept with the rolling maul, Driffield doing well to keep these drives out. In broken play Kitching’s pace was evident and the centres kept a tight rein on their opposites. At times Ilkley had some good chances but erratic handling spoilt these.
The fine weather and the renewed vigour shown by the whole Driffield team was a reward for the Driffield supporters.
The whole pack played well and was able to counter the Ilkley eight. Ollett’s move to scrum half was rewarded and he served Lucas well. Kitching’s running was a revelation and showed that the extra space he obtained by being in the centre was advantageous. Smith’s incursions into the threes were well timed and he caught the high ball well. McClarron showed he has lost none of his finishing ability and that he still is a difficult man to stop even if the searing pace is a little reduced.
The Director of Rugby, Burdass and his coach Sellar will be heartened with the performance after the recent indifferent showings.
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Weather for Driffield
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
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