Match report Sunday 25th April Yorkshire Bowl Final
Having played Whitby, Scarborough, Malton and Norton and Bridlington in all the previous rounds, Rishworthians were pitched against yet another East Yorkshire club Driffield in the final. It was the first time on the big stage for Rishworthians U16s with the team looking to bring silverware to the club after a 20-year gap. They didn't disappoint.

This was a real nail biter and the score reflects just how close the game was. From the kick off, Rishworthians took the ball to the opposition and from the first contact it was clear that these were two evenly matched sides. Much of the opening exchanges took place between the two 22 metre lines with neither team asserting a real advantage.

The lineouts didn't go well for either team with a cross-wind preventing clean throws while the scrums were evenly matched early on. Driffield's big strong pack looked to roll over the opposition and let their backs move the ball. But Rishworthians had different ideas, matching their forwards for size, strength and technique and looking to create danger in the backs with the ball in hand.

Driffield did look dangerous once their backs started to get into their stride with good handling skills, strong running and good angles. Rishworthians game was up to it with excellent tackling from backs and forwards alike and as possession started to come their way, the Rishworthians backs looked dangerous but couldn't make space for a decisive try.

Half-time: Rishworthians 0 - 0 Driffield

With the teams coming in evens at half-time, the bets were on for the first score settling the match - and so it did. The second half saw the same tight game with strong defensive work from both teams but as mistakes started to creep in, Rishworthians took advantage of a penalty within kicking distance in Driffield's half. Kelly slotted a cultured kick between the posts for the first and last points of the game.

The last twenty minutes was a cliffhanger for both sets of supporters. The game became broken up for a period with the referee resetting each scrum too often but in open play, both teams were looking for the break that would tip the balance in their favour. In a pulsating final few minutes, Driffield worked the ball well on two or three occasions but Rishworthians defended their slim lead and celebrated with as much relief as joy at the final whistle.

Credit goes to two well-matched teams for playing a hard-fought, clean match and commiserations must go to Driffield for losing out on the honours by such a small margin.

Full time: Rishworthians 3 - 0 Driffield

There were too many strong performances to single one player out for the Man of the Match and this was a real team effort by all 17 squad members.

Man of the Match The squad
 

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Team
	1. Fairbank	2. Illingworth	3. Hall
6. Hope-Collins				7. Broadbent
	4. Brierley		5. Collett
		8. Seleznev
9. Cowey
	10. Ledgard
		12. Kelly P
			13. Watkins
11. Floyd				14. Bottomley
		15. Hayes
Subs
	Mansell	Jones