Sat 31st Oct

[backrowbandit]

Very hard fought victory for Scarborough today and in truth, the score didn't fully reflect the match.

Sandal were in the game until the last 15 mins when Scarborough eventually woke up and ran in some tries. However it was far from easy. Sandal were competitive upfront for the whole match and had a couple of speedsters in the backs.

Pretty much everything that could go wrong for Scarborough today did but still managed the win.

Both centres unavailable and then one of the replacement centre injured during the week. Front row player contracted food poisoning last night and only played a couple of cameo stints whilst half comatosed! Nevertheless the boys dug deep and probably had a bit left in the tank at the end. 5 points achieved.

[Range]

Scarborough made hard work of beating Sandal today.

Looks like a big win for Northern... and did Middlesbrough show up with 13 men or was it a different Blaydon on show?

Big result for Driff as well.

[Differ Lid]

Strange game today at Kelleythorpe. I think both teams will be disappointed. Ilkley butchered a few opportunities in the 1st 40 and only took a 7-12 lead at half time, which should have been much more.

Second 40 Driffield came back at Ilkley, at one point Ilkley were down to 12 men for a brief period but Driffield didn't do enough during that spell to put the game to bed.

A fair result in the end as both sides didn't take the chances they had in offer.

[backrowbandit]

Alnwick    54 - 17 North Ribblesdale
No surprise here. Regulation win as predicted by everyone
   
Blaydon 54 - 0 Middlesbrough
Big win, Boro will be disappointed not to register any sort of score.
   
Driffield 19 - 19 Ilkley
I'm not sure who will be most disappointed I suspect Ilkley. Driffield will be glad not to be beaten at home again but home wins are essential in most leagues.
   
Scarborough 43 - 17 Sandal
Comments above - flattering scoreline but happy for the win.
   
Scunthorpe 29 - 34 Northern
Score of the day and a massive away win for Northern who will be delighted with the result.
   
York 27 - 54 Hull
Some try run in by both teams but no big surprise by Hull victory.

[Bombardier29]

Yet again a very poor first half performance from Scarborough. Ball retention and passing poor and unable to sting multiple phases together. Defended too narrow and beaten on the outside too easily. Second half a different side again. More control and better possession and retention. Not sure how to explain the disparity in performances. Scarborough deserved the win in the end but the score was somewhat flattering. Sandal better than their league position suggests

[Eustace.L.Boots]

Yet again a very poor first half performance from Scarborough. Ball retention and passing poor and unable to sting multiple phases together. Defended too narrow and beaten on the outside too easily. Second half a different side again. More control and better possession and retention. Not sure how to explain the disparity in performances. Scarborough deserved the win in the end but the score was somewhat flattering. Sandal better than their league position suggests

Sounds like a typical Scarborough performance. They love coming from behind.

[backrowbandit]

Yet again a very poor first half performance from Scarborough. Ball retention and passing poor and unable to sting multiple phases together. Defended too narrow and beaten on the outside too easily. Second half a different side again. More control and better possession and retention. Not sure how to explain the disparity in performances. Scarborough deserved the win in the end but the score was somewhat flattering. Sandal better than their league position suggests

Sounds like a typical Scarborough performance. They love coming from behind.

Oooo err matron!

[Kellythorpe]

Exciting game at Driffield. Ilkley should have put this game away in first half. Driff much better in second half and could have won the game in the final minutes. Although Ilkley had the size, the smaller Driff pack stuck to their task and did secure ball as the game went on. Draw probably correct result but Ilkley will be disappointed as they had plenty of opportunities to win this game. Big no. 15 not used enough by Ilkley. bottom of league tight.

[Eustace.L.Boots]

Alnwick    54 - 17 North Ribblesdale
No surprise here. Regulation win as predicted by everyone
   
Blaydon 54 - 0 Middlesbrough
Big win, Boro will be disappointed not to register any sort of score.
   
Driffield 19 - 19 Ilkley
I'm not sure who will be most disappointed I suspect Ilkley. Driffield will be glad not to be beaten at home again but home wins are essential in most leagues.
   
Scarborough 43 - 17 Sandal
Comments above - flattering scoreline but happy for the win.
   
Scunthorpe 29 - 34 Northern
Score of the day and a massive away win for Northern who will be delighted with the result.
   
York 27 - 54 Hull
Some try run in by both teams but no big surprise by Hull victory.

Boro pushed Alnwick close last week, so to be nilled seven days later takes some explaining.

Looking at the team sheets, there were four changes to the starting XV and a fair reshuffle in the pack, with Cook, Ali Lang, Ward and Marcus Lang all absent. That might explain some disruption, although the halfbacks and centres were unchanged.

Anyone there who can shed some light? Were Blaydon that good, Boro that poor, or a bit of both? Fair play to Blaydon!

[Range]

Was defence optional today at York?

[Yari]

Went to the York vs Hull game today. Very even until about 60/65 minutes, scoreline 20-22 and could have gone either way. York had the East coast mercinaries beat at scrum time, but Hulls bench proved to be the deciding factor, coupled with ill discipline. A lot closer affair than the scoreline suggests. However, the best team won, and i'm unsure how they have lost 2 games. Hull are a class act. If Hull had a decent kicker, the score would be higher.

[Pristine Shorts]

Ilkley's lack of discipline cost them the win. You can't play at this level with twelve men. Plus, the kicking was very poor. Driff will be much happier than Ilkley and deservedly so. Just like at Scarborough in fact.

[Differ Lid]

Ilkley's lack of discipline cost them the win. You can't play at this level with twelve men. Plus, the kicking was very poor. Driff will be much happier than Ilkley and deservedly so. Just like at Scarborough in fact.

I think the story of the 1st half was Driffield Penalties (lucky to probably only be 1 yellow card in the 1st 40) and Ilkley not taking the opportunities.
2nd 40 was the complete reverse. Ilkley penalty count went through the roof, the yellow cards all came for different things during a period of sustained pressure from Driffield, and unable to take opportunities. 

Dont think either side after the 80 looked chuffed with the draw

[Ribbflagman]

Alnwick are by far the best team we have played during our recent success. Fair play to them with some big ball carriers, slick handling and resolute defence. We played well in patches and scored three good tries but missed out on a bonus point. Well received by what I consider a well run good rugby club. Think they will win the league with something to spare unless they pick up lots of injuries but with their 2nd team beating Ashington 1st xv by 80+ points they appear to have plenty of depth.