The home fans expected a thunderous start from the green and blacks and they got it. From the kick off inspirational captain Rossington smashed into the first tackle and from the resulting surge at the scrummage York kicked to the corner for a line out five metres out. Off Rossington’s subsequent take, the pack drove Hepworth over like an icebreaker.
The attrition then started for real with no inch given or quarter taken, Roberts and Thorpe at the heart of the defence, whilst Job pushed his troops through the phases. He would have been a little disappointed to see a penalty come back of a post midway through the half. However, centre Martin was now beginning to make headway through the Driffield lines and the team will have been more disappointed to not have finished at least one of these, especially with Driffiled kicking a long distance penalty late on to close the gap to two at the break.
The visitors started the second have well, looking unrattled by the physical encounter. They were recycling and passing crisply, whereas York struggled to decamp from their own 22. And just when the visitor's 10 mins of pressure looked over, the dangerous Driff back three were helped by a loose clearance and executed a chillingly clinical counterattack from their own line. From the resultant ruck in the York 22, they exploited the unformed blind side with a converted try for the supporting back row after a lovely final inside pass from winger.
York strove to react quickly and Fox looked all over as York hit right through Pokrykus, then went back blind, but the ball somehow went to ground. Driffield then rubbed salt in the wounds as they converted another long range penalty truely putting their tails up. They now started to dominate ,the scrummage and after 60mins recorded a penalty try, as the first 5m scrum collapsed, to take a 20 – 5 lead.
But is is never over at Clifton Park, and taking strength from withstanding another five minute onslaught -when Herriot was at the centre of the fray, York produced the best play of the day. Clean line out ball was struck in to midfield and quick hands to Atkinson wide out. He switched with Arkle, who stepped his man to score in the corner.
With 10mins to go York dug deeper, and they had their chances but the clock rolled on. Finally, another catch and drive from the forwards took Buxton over, but there was no time to restart and Driffield had their victory.
Much can be taken from this encounter, with excellent performances from some new faces like Herriot.