Driffield RUFC will continue to blood its emerging talent between now and the end of the of the 2015/16 campaign.
Teenagers Will Brigham, Will Burns, Cameron MacPhee and Harry Sheader have all made their 1st XV debuts this season, with Ben Dinsdale in line to follow suit on Saturday when the Woldsmen travel to Percy Park.
And with the club’s North One East status all-but secured for another season, following a run of six victories from their last seven games, director of rugby Patrick Burdass says that he plans to keep giving the club’s young players a chance.
“Now that we’re not too worried about the issue of relegation, the pressure is off a little bit and that does give us the freedom to blood one or two of the younger guys who are coming through,” Burdass said.
“If we were scrapping for points at the bottom of the league, things may be a bit different, but that’s not to say that we don’t have confidence in these lads.
“They are being selected on merit and are playing because they are good enough, I’ve every confidence in every single one of them.
“They need 1st XV experience in order to learn the game, and develop as players.”
Burdass paid tribute to the club’s junior set-up, which he feels is doing an excellent job as the conveyor belt of talent continues to feed the Woldsmen’s senior sides.
“I worked out this week that just short of 20 players have come through from the under-17s and played for either the 1st or 2nd XV in the last two years,” he added.
“This is fantastic for us, and is a testament to the fine work the junior coaches are doing.
“We’ve always been a club that gives the young lads a chance and we’re reaping the benefits now.”
Brigham has become an established member of the 1st XV squad, making the fly-half position his own in the second half of the season, while MacPhee, Burns and Sheader have also enjoyed a taste of the action.
Sheader is in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Percy Park, while Dinsdale starts on the wing in what will be his debut for the club’s senior side.