The Grand Finale, the last game of the season, the final of the Yorkshire Cup. Perfect conditions prevailed for the game, The Yorkshire Cup game being the fourth game of the day at Castle Park Doncaster, the end of season finals day.
Driffield, from the league above Goole were favourites, but Goole’s excellent first season in Regional 2 North East and their exciting style of play gave them every chance of causing an upset. Goole had a strong side out despite missing their 2 highest try scorers this season in Matty Liil (broken hand) and Skipper Rhys Moore (broken leg) plus a couple of other likely starters unavailable and were quickest out of the blocks, Tom Holt landing an early penalty for Goole to lead 3-0. More pressure from Goole, dominating possession, testing the Driffield defence and on 7 minutes another penalty, Tom Holt repeating his earlier success for 6-0 Goole.
Driffield finally managed to get some ball and several direct drives punched holes in the Goole defence as their flanker broke 2 tackles to score beside the posts, converted to lead 6-7. Goole roared back on 16 minutes and some great interplay between backs and forwards saw Danny Holt over for a try near the touchline. The difficult conversion just wide for Goole to lead again 11-7. The Woldsmen came back once more with phases of their own but the Goole defence was working well and held firm before eventually conceding a penalty on 27 minutes as Driff closed the gap to 11-10. The pressure was beginning to tell on Goole and Tom Holt was sin binned for a deliberate knock down on 32 minutes. Driffield made a couple of changes in the forwards and were now camped on the Goole line which saw them held up over the line twice but the 14 men somehow held on till half time to lead at the break.
More of the same at the start of the second half with Driffield in the ascendancy, but had a close call as their 2nd row received only a yellow card for what looked like a forceful head on head contact on Goole’s Conner Walker. Goole smelled blood with the extra man and threw the kitchen sink at the Driffield defence and they twice in quick succession conceded goal line drop outs. Goole needed to turn this pressure into points, but couldn’t find the killer pass to unlock the organized and committed defence. Driffield were soon back to full strength and as the substitutions started for both sides they gradually worked their way up field and Goole again held them up over the line before, on 57 minutes, Driffield got the breakthrough as their powerful no.8 rode two tackles to go over for a converted try by the posts to retake the lead 11-17. Goole were restricted to occasional bursts up field but were gradually being worn down by the regional 1 outfit. A lost Goole line out in their own 22 saw them concede a penalty, coolly converted for the Woldsmen to lead 11-20, crucially taking them to more than one score clear of the Goole total. Goole then lost replacement prop Adam Wileman to what was later confirmed as a broken leg. While Goole regrouped, another slightly wayward lineout saw Driffield capitalize as their rangy 2nd row, hit a short line to surge under the posts from 25 metres for another converted try for 11-27. Goole were now playing high risk, desperate stuff, one Sam Smith break felled by what looked a clear high tackle as he searched for space, Goole were now throwing the ball around like the Chicago Bulls trying to keep the ball alive and make a meaningful breakthrough, but the clock ran down and the final whistle blew.
A fantastic game between 2 very good teams, a great advert for the sport, Driffield’s higher league experience just giving them the edge on the day as they received the Cup on the field, but the reception for the Goole players from their travelling support as the collected their runners up medals was something to behold. Never down for too long and the Goole contingent took over the bar below the main stand singing their signature songs as they mingled with the Goole players still in their playing kit!.
Another amazing season for the Goole club, 4th (possibly 3rd TBC) in the league in their first season at this level for 20 years following last seasons promotion as champions. ”Losing” the semi final of the Papa Johns national cup, following incorrect application of the rules at the end of their epic extra time draw with Malton (apologies received from both the referees association and the tournament organisers along with their thanks for the magnanimous way we accepted the error to prevent a very difficult situation for them) and valiant runners up in the Yorkshire Cup, their first appearance in that final for over 60 years.
I know this is echoed by all the long time and the many new supporters of the club as we thank the whole playing staff across the 3 and occasionally 4 / vets teams, the coaching and medical team, along with the multitude of staff and volunteers who run the club, for a fantastic experience when attending the club on match days and at events during the season.
Now just the senior presentation day on 8th June from 3 pm, awards, BBQ and Soul Revolver playing, it promises to be a great day and a proper celebration of anther outstanding season, before we can all rest for a couple of moths before pre-season training begins!