With the 1st XI’s fixture at Yorkshire Academy a victim of the bad weather, Driffield’s 2nd XI took centre stage at Kings Mill Road as they looked for an opening day victory against Sessay under the stewardship of new captain Grant Halder.
However, things didn’t go to plan for Halder and his comrades as they fell to a humbling 122-run defeat after a day to forget for the Driffield batsmen.
It was the North Yorkshire side who batted first on a bleak, overcast day that looked perfect for bowling. But the Sessay openers took the game to the Driffield opening bowlers to create a solid platform for their team.
Both players, Matthew Till and Joesph Watson, fell for 73 and their departure sparked a mini-revival from the Woldsmen, with young off-spinner Alec Drury in particular stemming the flow of runs.
The away side finished their innings on 218-6, with Tim Hall’s 29 being a major contribution to this. The pick of the Driffield bowlers was seamer Jamie Hopper, who finished with figures of 3-62.
Driffield’s reply got off to a dreadful start when their top three batsmen were all dismissed for single figures.
Things didn’t get any better for the home side and if it hadn’t been for a solid 5th wicket partnership between Halder (26) and Nick Johnson (22), then Driffield may have been dismissed for less than the 96 runs they eventually made.
Sessay’s chief destroyer was opening bowler Stuart Pierse, with his ten overs yielding 4-22, whilst Yorkshire spinner Karl Carver picked up 3-22.
Driffield 3rd XI began their campaign in York Senior League Division Two (South) with a home game against Beverley 2nds, a side who were playing against Driffield’s 2nd XI on the opening day of last year.
It was the away side that emerged victorious, stamping their authority with a comfortable six-wicket victory.
Having lost the toss, Driffield were asked to bat first and although they looked on course for a score of 200 plus at 73-0, a middle-order collapse saw them bowled out for 154.
Top run-scorer for Driffield was opening batsman Neil Woodcock, whose innings of 49 included three fours, five sixes yet just three singles. Driffield’s nemesis in the Beverley attack was paceman Kieran Thompson who garnered 4-28 from his 12 overs. Thompson’s effort was backed up by fellow seamer Guy Brumfield who emerged with 3-29.
Beverley made light work of reaching their target, getting there with just under 15 overs to spare. This was mainly thanks to a brilliant innings from their number three Gregory Whyley, who made 56, and put on 77 for the third wicket with Ben Fish. Fish himself making a fluent 43 to lead his side to victory.
Sunday saw the 1st XI in action in Round One of the ECB National Club Championship which pitted them against Bradford League side Yeadon, a tie that they easily negotiated to progress to the next round.
Driffield made a mammoth total of 302-3 from their 45 overs, with opener Mark Clarkson getting his side off to a good start with a steady 41. Clarkson was brilliantly complemented by Sam Drury who followed up his century on the opening day of the league season with a fantastic innings of 113 from just 85 balls, as he put the home side’s bowlers to the slaughter.
Danny Broumpton proved to be just as destructive. His knock of 88 from 43 balls had the crowd ducking for cover.
Driffield’s total was far too overwhelming for Yeadon to chase down, and they were dismissed for 144.
For Driffield, George Drury picked up 4-24 and Nick Johnson 3-37. This comprehensive victory sets up a home tie against Doncaster on May 11th.
Saturday teams
1st XI v Harrogate, away meet 9am: D Brent, D Broumpton, A Asad, S Drury, N Hardgrave, G Drury, M Goddard, M Clarkson, J Anderson, S Winterbotttom, N Johnson.
Scorer: H Nunn
2nd XI v Pickering, home meet 12noon: G Halder, J Hopper, O Goldsworthy, A Chapman, R Grice, K Woodcock, C Busfield, A Drury, W Norman, J Gibson, A Rogers
Scorer: I Halder.
3rd XI v Carlton Towers, home meet 12:30pm: J Richardson, N Woodcock, J Woolley, J Foster, D Woodcock, J Addy, J Greveson, C Robb, R Woodcock J Driskell, S Morris.
Scorer: D Richardson
4th XI v Patrington 2nd XI, away meet 12noon: M Cole, D Jenkinson, J Robinson, C Suggitt, K Walker, B Lawrence, J Barron, W Brigham, S Pallant, R Kelly, D Warcup.
5th XI v Beeford, away meet 12:30pm: N English, J Goldsworthy, T Hudson, I Wilkes, M Busfield, J Beston, D Hammond, K Wright, L Sach, R Milner, R Beckett.
Monday teams
1st XI v Cleethorpes, home meet 10:30am: D Brent, D Broumpton, A Asad, S Drury, N Hardgrave, G Drury, M Goddard, M Clarkson, J Anderson, S Winterbottom, N Johnson
Scorer: H Nunn.