Moseley U17 5
Driffield U17 7
National Cup semi-final
Sunday saw Driffield U17s make the trip to Doncaster for the next round of their National Under 17 Competition. Their opponents were Moseley the Midlands Plate Winners.
Driffield started by kicking to Moseley and soon found them camped in the Moseley half. The packs were evenly matched and Driffield continually pressed competing well at the break down.
Driffield’s back line kept trying to use their handling skills to find a way through the defence but the Moseley defence was well structured and well disciplined.
It was during a Driffield attack that the ball broke free and Moseley’s hooker made the most of the opportunity to break the Driffield line and he set his winger up for the first try of the game.
Driffield responded in characteristic manor and started to attack the Moseley line but despite every effort somehow couldn’t make that last pass tell.
The second half started very much as the first had finished with Driffield in the driving seat. The Moseley defence was as impressive as ever with Driffield struggling to breakdown the defence.
With this pressure it would have to give and when swift hands from the backs found Brigham running a loop and he placed a well weighted kick through and Sheader won the race to score a well-deserved try. Brigham then added the extra points, Driffield now led 7-5 with around 10 minutes to go.
Moseley had the kick off and started to push for the score. When Driffield offended just outside their own 22 it looked like Moseley had the penalty that could win them the game but elected to kick to the corner.
They won the lineout and their forwards kept trying to force their way over the line. The Driffield defence held firm, eventually turned the ball over and made their way up field.
When Driffield knocked on Moseley were awarded a scrum on the Driffield 22. Driffield took the scrum against the head and had control of the ball again. They broke from the base of the scrum and the forwards ran a number of phases until Moseley offended. A check with the referee found 10 seconds to go, Brigham ran the clock down and then kicked the ball off the field to end the game.
Driffield now progress to the National U17 Plate final against Amersham & Chiltern RFC at Sale Sharks Ground on Sunday, May 5.
Squad; Blacker, Sirr, Reed, Watts, Kelly, Brigham, Sheader, Clappison, Newborn, Hesslington, Warcup, Southwell, Higgins, Rough, Beachell, Harrison, Lewis, Murray
Finalists through
after kicking contest
Amersham & Chiltern U17 reached finals’ day by beating Old Albanians in a kicking contest after the scores were level at 19-19 in their semi-final at Henley.