FIRST TEAM
SCUNTHORPE 25 – DRIFFIELD 24
On a sunny but breezy day, the Greens started with slight changes to the team with Nick Dyson & Will Robinson away, Ben Hyde going into the second row and Jack Murr on the wing and bringing Alfie Oldridge on the bench.
The Greens kicked off towards the Queensway end. The Greens went on the attack from the outset spent the 1st 5 mins encamped in the Driffield 22 winning a line out, clean ball taken by Ben Hyde, the ball carried by through by Grant Elliot into a second phase and with both props carrying and being held up before a carry by Laurence Pearce, the ball was again recycled for it to be passed through hands for Ben Hyde to go over for the 1st try of the day. Conversion missed 5-0
The Greens played the next 10 minutes in the Driffield half before giving up a high tackle penalty. During this passage of play the Greens lost their influential captain Grant Elliot this requiring a shuffle in the pack.
Driffield kicked for the corner and from the ensuing line out scored a try. Conversion missed.
5-5 after 15 mins.
Play then continued in the Driffield half for a further 10 minutes with the Greens on top until giving a penalty away for offside on halfway. Driffield kicked into touch on the Greens 22. The referee saw an early lift in the line and gave a free kick from the ensuing tap and go, the Greens were then penalised for ripping the ball out after the referee called a tackle penalty to Driffield. Penalty in front of the posts kicked and converted. 5-8 28 mins.
From the restart the Greens Driffield won the ball and after a couple of phases kicked for touch only for the ball to be caught by Lewis Talbot who was secure under the high ball all game. The Greens drove into the Driffield forwards who were offside and secured a penalty.
The Greens kicked for the corner and won the line out only to be thwarted by Driffield forwards collapsing the maul. The Greens then reverted to a Brid drove the ball over the line for James Dyson to touch down. Conversion missed Scunthorpe10- 8 34 mins
Driffield kicked off only for Scunthorpe to knock the ball on, from the scrum Driffield won the ball only for it to be turned over and the Greens carried the ball up field only to be penalised for hands in the ruck. Driffield kicked for the corner and from the resulting line out the Greens hold up the ball receiving player to win a scrum. From the scrum they breakout with Laurence Pearce carrying and breaking the tackle the ball then goes through the hands into the Driffield half with penalty advantage being played. The Greens put out a wayward pass for Driffield to pick the ball up and try to kick for touch the ball went straight into the hands of Josh Lugsden who stepped inside a tackle and showed the Driffield defence a clean pair of heels to score in the corner. The conversion attempt hits the crossbar and bounces back into the field of play. 15 – 8 39 mins
HT Scunthorpe 15 Driffield 8.
2nd half starts with the Greens defending manfully but at a line out a bit of handbags sees Ben Hyde Yellow carded. Down to 14 men and they had to double their efforts in defence after a long passage of play and a couple of scrums the Greens defence finally gave way with Driffield scoring near to the posts. This was duly converted. 15 -15 59 mins
From the Greens restart Driffield were soon back on the attack and a kick through by Driffield hit a Green player on the knee which then was picked up by a Green player in front leading to another penalty for Driffield which was converted 15 – 18 61 mins.
From the kick off Driffield kick the ball away and the Greens go on the attack and after a couple of breaks the ball found its way to Jordan Beresford who broke through the middle and was eventually stopped but Driffield transgressed in front of the posts and for the 1st time this season the Greens opted for a kick at goal. This was converted by Ethan Taylor.
18 -18 65 mins.
From the kick off Driffield back in the attack eventually conceding a penalty close to the posts. Again Driffield kicked for goal and converted. 18-21 69 mins.
The Greens kicked off once more and Driffield carried the ball back and after a couple of phases in an attempt to recover the ball at a ruck the Greens knocked the ball forward. From the ensuing scrum Driffield found their way into the Greens half 2 successive penalties later see wing forward Will Harrison yellow carded for a build up of offences by the Greens. Driffield successfully kicked the penalty. 18-24 75 mins.
Things at this point were becoming a bit bleak for the Greens with their winning start to the season on the line.
The Greens kicked off and a knock on by Driffield brought a scrum after a reset the referee deemed Driffield had pushed too soon giving the Greens a free kick, a tap by James Dyson brought nothing. A wayward kick to touch brought a Greens line out this was won and a catch and drive took the ball nearer the Driffield line, their defence was resolute but a further carry by Laurence Pearce who had broken the line all afternoon saw another ruck and further phases and a body swerve from Josh Lugsden take out the last player for him to pass the ball to Alfie Oldridge to score a try in the corner and a try bonus point. Having missed all his conversions throughout the game it left Ethan Taylor with a kick to take the Greens into the lead from the touch line, not phased by this he calmly converted giving the Greens the lead by one point. 25-24 79 mins.
The referee told Driffield there was one minute left. The Greens weathered the final minute with Driffield conceding a penalty for going off their feet in an attempt to win the ball back. A simple tap and kick to touch saw the referee blow his whistle for full time. After looking like the Greens were going to give up their unbeaten run they pulled a rabbit out of the hat to win the game.
MoM Laurence Pearce for his line breaking runs and resoluteness in defence.
WOMENS TEAM
SCUNTHORPE 68 – AMBER VALLEY 7 (Match Played – 22/09/24)
