York travelled to the Wolds, their opponents Driffield, a traditional community rugby club running 4 senior sides and a thriving successful junior’s section shown by the fact that 16 of the home side’s squad are former juniors. The visitors had registered a victory in the home game earlier in the season and were hoping to do so again after 2 losses on the trot and regain some momentum. Club stalwart Shane Goulding was celebrating his 150th appearance for the club and in doing so joining a select band. They welcomed a recent recruit in the back row, Joji Logavatu. The home side were mid table with 7 wins from 15 games. After a heavy defeat in the last game of 2024 against league leaders Scunthorpe they had won the first 2 games of 2025 and hoped to make it 3 on the trot.

The worst of storm Eowyn had abated but there was a stiff wind blowing down the pitch which was in good condition. Both sides were well supported. York played into the wind and quickly earned a penalty which was kicked to their opponents 22 and were able to put them under pressure but they conceded a penalty allowing Driffield to take the game to York and it was not long before they were on the attack and putting pressure on the visitors. York conceded a penalty which was kicked by the home side’s leading point scorer, fly half Josh Stanyon after 12 minutes. York’s kick off did not go10 metres. From the scrum Driffield kicked to the 22 and maintained the pressure, York could not clear their lines and conceded a further penalty which presented no problem to the home side. The deficit now 6 points after 16 minutes.

York then went on the attack and maintained possession and were held up over the line. From the clearance kick the visitors again spent time on the ball but the home side defended well and were able to clear when York conceded another penalty. Another penalty quickly followed allowing Driffield to kick to 10 metre from the try line. The resulting catch and drive was well defended but eventually the pressure told, a penalty conceded and kicked to take the score to 9-0 after 25 minutes.

York quickly reduced the deficit when Harry Shackleton put over a penalty from 30 metres but the rest of the half was all Driffield. York’s indiscipline continued, Driffield scored from another penalty to stretch the lead to 9 points after 30 minutes. Penalties continued to be conceded and having given a warning the referee lost patience and Sam Forbes was given a yellow card. From a further penalty Driffield took a scrum hoping to take advantage of the extra man. It was well defended but shortly afterwards A J Peplinski was the recipient of a yellow card so York were now down to 13 men. Again Driffield opted for the scrum and used the extra men to score in the corner. The conversion followed to take the score to 19-3. York did well not to concede again before the referee blew the whistle for half time.

The travelling supporters hoped that with the wind behind them in the second half the lead was not unsurmountable. To take the win an improvement in discipline was needed together with greater tempo and pace. However, there was the problem of starting the half with 13 men and it was important to score first and not to go further behind.

York started the half well and after been back to 14 men and only 4 minutes into the half Charlie Rae scored a try which Harry Shackleton could not convert. The deficit now 11 points. From the kick off Driffield conceded a penalty which York kicked to 10 metres from the try line. They were held up over the line but were soon back in the home sides 22 and at a scrum put Driffield under pressure, the ball squirted out, Toby Atkins was the quickest to react and scored under the posts. Harry Shackleton added the extra 2 points to reduce the deficit to 4 points after 14 minutes.

From the kick off it was not long before York were back in their opponent’s 22 and from a line out the ball went through several phases before Archie Fothergill went over in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed. York now led for the first time in the match after 17 minutes with the score 19-20.

The momentum was clearly with the visiting side but Driffield had not given up and were soon on the attack, York conceded a penalty which was kicked and the home side were now back in the lead by 2 points. From the kick off the home side infringed, and York kicked the penalty to the 22 but unfortunately knocked on at the line out allowing Driffield to clear but good defence by York resulted in another penalty which was kicked to the 10 metre line. Driffield conceded yet another penalty and the referee issued a yellow card to their second row. York now had the numerical advantage, could they make it count?

They kicked to the 22 lost the line out but the pressure forced a scrum from which York used the extra man, the ball went along the line and George Davies scored in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful and the score now 22-25 after 32 minutes. York easily saw out the remainder of the game. They earned a scrum which was now dominant and Driffield conceded another penalty, but the referee played advantage allowing York to play several phases involving both forwards and backs before Jonty Atkinson scored a try. Harry Shackleton put over the conversion to take the score to 22-32. A couple of minutes later the referee blew for full time.

In the second half York used the wind well to kick for position and play the game in their opponent’s half. The scrum was dominant and their discipline an improvement on the first half. They played with more pace and a greater tempo and well deserved the win. As a result they stay second in the league. Next week they have another away game when they travel to Ilkley.