06/10/2026
Full Time
Dudley Hill U13s 14- Drighlington U13s 24
It was heartbreak at the death but the boys put together a performance that left the Dudley Hill community unbelievably proud. In scenes resembling an open age game, the support and atmosphere was a sight to behold.
The task was no small feat. With two divisions separating the two teams, Dudley Hill walked into this fixture as heavy underdogs, and the prospect of this challenge was something the boys clearly revelled in.
Much of the first half went the way most outsiders would have expected. Dudley Hill were competing, and in the physical battle, but Drighlington being the classy outfit they are, punished our mistakes. 18-0 down the boys could have been expected to give up, become disheartened or lose patience.
The response was immediate. Tough carries got us up the field before a perfectly placed kick from Charlie into our opposition in-goal enabled Harry to skilfully regather and put down. 18-4 down and still lots of work to do but it laid the platform and showed the boys their loftier-positioned opponents could be got to if they stuck to their plan.
The second half started and after some well disciplined, set for set battling between the two teams, the electric Ethan found some space on an edge to break through and despite plenty of attention from desperate Drighlington defence, raced away to score. 18-10 down and the boys were ramped up, the crowd were ramped up…..momentum was with Hill and they were clearly rising to the occasion.
A long kick off from Drighlington forced a drop out set and this was, again, a point where the neutral would have expected order to be restored. It didn’t happen. Dudley Hill defended bravely for multiple sets on their line and shut out Drighlington who just couldn’t find a way past the boys.
The lads maturity, work ethic and resilience showed how much they were locked into the battle when soon after their heroics in defence, the script was really starting to be rewritten. Jude gathered the ball with little space to work with on his side of the field..Jude doing Jude things decided he would put his jet shoes on and find space on opposite side of the field, beating multiple defenders before looping a lovely pass over for a rampaging Kuba to go over in the corner. 18-14 down…..Surely not????? By this point even the most sceptical of fans were starting to believe!
With two minutes to go, Hill were on top and came so close to forcing a decisive score but, Drighlington held their nerve, and broke our hearts at the death with a late score, which proved to be the last play of the game. 24-14 to Drig.
Much of this report sounds like a Dudley Hill victory, and in every aspect apart from the result it absolutely was. We are watching these boys turn into great men and last night was the most emphatic showing of that. There was no fairytale ending their performance deserved but the effort, resilience, teamwork, and performance they put in made everyone enormously proud and truly showed what they are capable of if they stick together.
We congratulate Drig on their victory and wish them luck in the semi finals. We would also like to thank them for being great dance partners in an incredibly tough battle, contested in good spirits.
💙💛 💙💛
