Yorkshire Rugby

Round 5 fixtures, to have 3 teams with the perfect start is brilliant, the league has certainly started off really well.

Harrogate vs Alnwick
Tough test for both sides. Yet again Harrogates results haven't looked convincing but they know how to pick up points. Alnwick have been flying, but this appears to be the first real test.
Harrogate Win (home advantage)

Heath vs Blaydon
Blaydon looked dangerous last week, but reliant on a few players to make things tick. I think Heath will have the beating of them in the forwards, and the smaller pitch will reduce the impact of the star players.
Heath Win

Ilkley vs Penrith
Similar to Alnwick I think Ilkley have had a simpler start then some. However they have had some brilliant scorelines and 4 from 4 in this league is never simple.
Penrith have not had an easy start and will be looking to bounce back after last week.
Penrith Win

Kendal vs Sandal
Kendals results have all be tight and competitive even in the loses. Sandal getting the season started last week will be a massive boost, but think this will be a long afternoon
Kendal Win

York vs Middlesbrough
Well another side should get the season up and running this weekend. A game that will be determined by which players are back available for each side. Going with home advantage, but if Middlesbrough have the 10 back then it could go the other way
York Win

Driffield vs Cleckheaton
2 frustrating results in the bounce for the Woldsmen who will be looking to get rolling again.
Cleckheaton are never a side to take for granted and even with the league position still have to think they can get a result against any side in the league on their day. But home advantage and the disappointment of the last 2 games to fire up the home side.
Driffield Win

Driffield v Cleckheaton - I think Driff will get back on their feet and win this. I'd be less confident if it was at Cleck - but it isn't ! Home win.

Harrogate v Alnwick - one which will go to the wire, but 'gate to hold on for a narrow win.

Heath v Blaydon - the Heavies are favourites for the top slot after 4 wins and I think they will prevail this week too, but possibly not with 4 tries.

Ilkley v Penrith - I would agree that Ilkley's 4 wins have been against teams what are turning out to be from the lower end of the table, at least for now. Having said that, when they let rip, they're impressive. Hardest game of the Season so far, but I'm backing the Dalesmen.   

Kendal v Sandal - the Wakey lads were no pushover at Stacks Field and with a win last week, they'll be wanting to improve further. I think they might just pip Kendal.

York v Middlesbrough - I've seen both this Season and Middlesbrough were more impressive than York. Desperation will beset both sides and the most composed should take the spoils. York by a whisker.

Driffield v Cleckheaton - Driffield win

Harrogate v Alnwick - Harrogate win

Heath v Blaydon - Heath win

Ilkley v Penrith - Ilkley win

Kendal v Sandal - Kendal win

York v Middlesbrough - York win

Driffield v Cleckheaton - Don't think this will be a game for the spectators. Although Driffield seem to turn it on at home. Can desperate Cleck get a first win? No. I'm going for a low scoring draw.
Draw.

Harrogate v Alnwick - I'd love to say Alnwick, but on that bog of a pitch and with Harrogate's driving maul. I'll go for them.
Harrogate

Heath v Blaydon - Blaydon seem to be in a better place this season and after a close game away at Harrogate could push the Heathens. But the huge Heath pack will bring them home - just.
Heath

Ilkley v Penrith - Think Ilkley have had a good a run so far and can see them squeezing a victory out here.
Ilkley.

Kendal v Sandal - Kendal score points but concede a lot more, can that change today? Think they'll have too much for Sandal.
Kendal

York v Middlesbrough - if York put out a similar side to last week they'll lose this in a low scoring affair.
Middlesbrough

Kendal v Sandal. Sandal might start playing better here. Away win
Ilkley v Penrith. I take Ilkley to continue their winning ways even though Penrith are big up front.
York v M'boro. It's about time York started their season and I think it will be today.
Harrogate v Alnwick. This is a tough forecaste. I will take Alnwick just.
Heath v Blaydon. Heath easily to win by a good amount.
Driffield v Cleck. I am hoping for a Driff win, but I fear Clerk's kicking ability and they will be anxious to open their account.

An outstanding performance by Ilkley today, running in 11 tries against a Penrith side that never gave up. The weather conditions were just perfect and just suited our backs - who scored all 11. Thanks to the pack for providing the platform. Oh, the giddy heights !

Driff 34 Cleck 31 so Bin Juice nearly got it right with a draw but not the low scoring!
Driff should have made it easier on themselves in the last ten minutes when they should have scored a final try but the handling let them down. Their lineout was also poor.
It's difficult to understand Cleck's poor start to the season. They have some big forwards and speedy backs who pass well. Of course they also have a good kicking game.
Driffield's light pack certainly play with plenty of heart but struggle when size is in the opposition.
Great weather and plenty of tries.

For the most part I agree with Kelleythorpe. Driffield played with an incredible young backrow, who stood up to the test of a typical Cleckheaton performance.
First half penalties gave Cleckheaton hope and some relatively easy points. And a 7 point lead at half time.

The second half Cleckheaton struggled fitness wise and the penalty count showed in the end. Agree in the final 10 minutes Driffield should have put Cleckheaton to bed, and should have scored another try or 2.

But you can't take away from Cleckheaton they clearly targeted today as a game to get a win. They threw everything at the Woldsmen and fully deserving of the 2 points they left with.

It was a scrappy afternoon against a determined side. 5 points is a massive outcome with the games to come for Driffield.

Yet again Driffield are playing young lads who need applauding for the outstanding efforts. Lots of injuries and unavailability for Driffield, but that can't take away from the performance of the lads who are stepping up.

Onto the rest of the league....

York 🤯
Ilkley 🙌

I popped through to Driffield with some pals today as had a school fixture with my boy in the morning. No time to get to Old Crocs.

Very enjoyable match...Driffield fitter which just gave them the edge. But make no mistake Cleck should have been a mile clear by halftime they were that dominant. Driffield scored a couple of individual tries against the run of play that kept them in it. I was impressed with some speed Driff had out wide.

Credit to them for staying close to Cleck and eventually doing enough to win (and yes they should have probably scored another in the end).

Come the end of the season this could be the match that keeps Driff in this league with a tough run ahead.

Id be amazed if Cleck stay at the bottom.

Love the new outside bar at Driff, an excellent addition.

All in all an enjoyable afternoon with a very entertaining match.

To say Cleck were dominant is abit rich. They lived of Driffields mistakes at lineouts and kickoffs, and hats of to them for that, but they weren't forcing the errors. They didn't play the way into the 22 other than the 1st try which was them at their best. It was penalties and simple unforced errors. Driffield applied all the pressure on themselves.

The 1st try from Styche was a moment of individual brilliance but the second try was certainly not against the run of play building into the 22 and the 2nd row storming through.

Cleckheaton looked like a side fighting for their lives and Driffield looked like a side with a lot of inexperience. But the beauty of a young side is they can only improve, which has been the tail of the season so far.

9 out of 18 under the age of 23, playing level 5 rugby, and getting 5 points. I will celebrate that.

Physically dominant

What's going on at York?

Quote from: Sail By on Oct 12, 2025, 08:55 AMWhat's going on at York?

A few key names from last season appear to be missing from the Team Sheet.
Kym Russell on a Pocklington team sheet yesterday after playing 2 early games this season for York.

Lots of rumours flying around but still very surprised by the results so far

As mentioned previously on this forum, the usual drivel that was being spouted about £ork £pending ££££, couldn't be further from the truth.
Retirements, long term concussions (possibly career ending), players moving to the southern hemisphere have left the first team squad and therefore the second team decimated , compared to last season.
4 pack and 2 backs from starting 1st team players from last season, played yesterday.
Unfortunately for York as previously posted, this is going to be a long difficult season.

Clearly DAA persistently high inflation means you will need to up your match payments! And don't do that Lady Macbeth act again 🤣🤣