12/07/2026
🏉 Match Report is in……… 🏉
Saturday 11th July 2026
DRAMATIC FINALE!
Full time under 13s
West Bowling 10 Drighlington 16
Our under 13s made the short trip to Bradford earlier today, for what was undoubtedly the most eagerly anticipated sporting encounter of the weekend, the final league game of the regular season. Drig were looking to end the campaign with a victory that would ensure a minimum fourth place finish in Division Two.
As well as the searingly hot conditions, today's opposition were West Bowling, who themselves have had an eerily similar campaign to our boys, often struggling for consistency with narrow victories intertwined with the ocassional heavy defeat.
West Bowling came into the match on the back of a narrow defeat, going down 14-8 to league runners up Normanton Knights.
For our boys, the intention was to build on last time out, where a hard fought 12-8 victory over Shaw Cross Sharks was secured. Drig were looking for consecutive league wins for the first time since the opening two matches of the season.
Revenge was also on the agenda following the meeting earlier in the season, where our hosts took the victory 22-6 in a fiercely contested match.
Drig were without the services of several key players, with Eddie, Harvey and Ollie unavailable but the coaching team were still able to name a strong squad with powerful interchanges to call upon and confidence was as high as the temperature heading into the fixture.
Today was to turn out to be a true game of the season contender - high drama, come backs, questionable refereeing, for a neutral it had everything. Unfortunately, we are not neutral and we've come off the pitch feeling like we've made every tackle, made every pass and kicked every goal.
The game started with extreme physicality and injured bodies started to stack up for Drig. Jack, Joe and Joseph amongst the people to be suffering.
The score remained locked at 0-0 until the 13th minute and it was our hosts that broke the deadlock. Decent hands, albeit with a suspiciously forward pass assisting, found space out wide, the kick didn't follow and it was 4-0. Consecutive penalties were heavily punished.
On 18 minutes, another crucial part of the game occurred where it looked like West Bowling had extended their lead, only for an issue with the grounding, leaving the half time score 4-0 to West Bowling.
Drig came flying out of the traps in the second half and were unlucky not to be level, however, our hosts were again the next to score following a tricky run from the full back who converted well to leave it at 10-0 and Drig staring defeat in the face.
By now, anyone who has seen our boys shouldn't even begin to doubt their character, instead of folding they stepped it up a gear and our hosts couldn't live with them.
Freddie opened Drig's account with a typically barnstormer of a close range run. The extras followed, and 9 minutes remained and our hosts had a 4 point lead.
With 5 minutes to go, Charlie levels following a great line break from George who was only prevented from scoring by a quite brilliant tackle from West Bowling's full back. Quick hands followed, Harry J lofted the ball wide and it was 10-10. Harry J managed to score the extras with a fantastic effort and our boys led the game 12-10.
With the last pass of the last game of the season, Charlie again scored. Turning on the after burners following great hands and finishing out wide sparking jubilant scenes, the kick didn't follow but nobody cared. Great hands, great scenes, great team! Gap exploited, come back complete 16-10.
With the league season now concluded, the boys will look forward to some well earned rest and recuperation before friendly matches and the reflections on the campaign begin. The immediate focus will now be shifting to the team fundraiser tomorrow where 13 kilometres will be walked and the local pub landlords will be boosted by the arrival of several thirsty parents en-route!
There is still time for you to get behind this wonderful group of boys by supporting their fund raising efforts by following this link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/drighlington-13-for-13s-challenge?attribution_id=sl:ce0b539d-fc2e-429b-b55d-eb31a43e055b&lang=en_GB&ts=1783022279&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp20_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAS8UkJwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKMhkqNX9BwNtYqx-a7UnV1yfVLdjWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4buGs7Ca7NkQN34e5VN6dpUp1HFofYWp2cDlw8q04HNtcqMTW5zl0nO8zl8A_aem_XocGKqDQEzx2LIfrcye2Ow&utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e227_tv2_tp1_a1den1nib3ha30
Thank you to all of the boys, new and old who have contributed to some fantastic matches throughout the season, and I'm sure the boys would in turn thank you all for your support and guidance this season!
Let's be covering a promotion season in 2027!
Our Junior Rugby League Under 13s team is taking on an incredible 13km fundraising walk… Kim Jarrett needs your support for Drighlington 13 for 13s challenge
