The Dronfield Drifters finished their Kukri Midland Rugby League season with an
86-2 win against the Heavy Woolen Donkeys from Dewsbury. The Drifters knew that to stand ay chance ofprogressing to the league play offs a heavy victory was needed and that was exactly what they achieved.
The Drifters started as they meant to go on taking a quick 20-0 lead. Their dominance was in defence as well as attack so much so that when the Donkeys were awarded a penalty 10 meters from the Drifters' line they kicked the 2 points rather than face the Drifters hard defence again, the Drifters holding the Donkeys up over the line with some hard tackling and keeping them out from 5 meters on a number of occasions. This broke the Donkey's resolve and the Drifters started opening up.
Tries came from Vinny Caldwell (3), Steve Wood (3), Chris Plume, Tom Wilde, Mark Slatter (2), Neil Harrison, Robert Bowling, Rich Pitchfork, Nick Roberts, Sam Clews, Jason Davidson and Andy Gwilliam with conversions from the varied boots of Gamel Kassim (2), Rich Pitchfork, Simon Lomas and Vinny Caldwell (5).
The final try summed up the quality of the Drifers on the day. Mark Slatter finnished a move started on the Drifters' try line as Chris Plume broke two tackles before offloading to Alby Atkinson who broke more tackles as he raced down the left wing. With the winger to beat he drew his man and passed back to Chris Plume who in turn drew the full back and last man and passed to Mark Slatter to finnish from 20 yards.
The win left the Drifters in 4th Place, the last play off place, on Saturday night with all their matches played, with the 5th placed team, Wolverhampton, holding a game in hand and on equal points.
"We have done all we can." Commented Chariman and double try scorer Mark Slatter. "We knew we had to win and win well and we did. It is now out of our hands. Whatever the result we can be proud of our first season and look forward to some out of season friendlies this summer before getting ready for next year.
"We only started getting the team together in December so we have gone a long way in a short space of time. As we dont traing and play for fun we have done well and the squad are already talkking about next year and how they have enjoyed being back in this environment."
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