05/10/2026
UP HILL STRUGGLE BUT JOB DONE IN THE END
BRADFORD CUP QUARTER FINAL - Monday 5th October 2026
Full time under 13s
Bradford Dudley Hill 14
Drighlington 24
Tonight our under 13s made the short trip to BD4 for a fascinating and eagerly anticipated Bradford Cup Quarter Final match up against Bradford Dudley Hill, under the floodlights at Parry Lane.
Returning to their previous club was the trio of Joseph, Max and Jaxson. No doubt the sight of their former team mates in Drig colours would serve as an extra motivation for the hosts, who would undoubtedly have fancied themselves to cause an upset and secure progression into the next round.
In terms of their respective league campaigns, our hosts finished the season 5th out of 10 in a congested top end of Division 4, with our boys a couple of divisions higher, finishing the season in 4th place in Division 2.
Set for another fiercely contested rugby league fixture, both sides will be looking to lay down a marker from the opening whistle, with the prize for victory a place in the semi finals, where one of Division 1 duo Queensbury or Keighley Albion, or a third clash of the season (in Drig's case) against divisional rivals West Bowling awaits the victors.
After coming into the fixture with plenty of match practice under their belts, Dudley Hill arrived with confidence boosted by three wins from their previous four games. Their most recent outing, however, saw them suffer a narrow 22–6 defeat away at Guiseley Rangers, giving them plenty of motivation to bounce back and return to winning ways.
Contrasting this is Drighlington's relative lack of match practice, with tonight being the first competitive fixture since the memorable 16-10 final league game victory at West Bowling, back on 11th July.
Useful post season run outs have seen Drig contest three friendly fixtures in the interim period and whilst the rest may have done some good to some battle weary bodies, they would be out to make sure that the lack of match practice wouldn't prove to be a hinderance today.
Next up, SEMI-FINAL, or the thing rugby players of any age or level dread..... PRE-SEASON? The next 50 minutes would prove decisive.
Today, the coaching staff were able to name almost a full strength team, with 17 players to choose from and only one long-term absentee.
Drig got off to the perfect start where just 2 minutes in, Harry J applied the finish to a good team move.
Only goal line defence stopped Jack extending the lead, and Harry S was unfortunate to knock on.
Drig continued to turn the screw, forcing a goal line drop out on 14 minutes.
15 minutes in the pressure told, Jack crossing next to the sticks and doubling the advantage.
Harry J nearly extended the scores further after an inventive kick chase on 18 mins.
Just three minutes later, Harry J scored a wonderful solo try on 21 mins, the extras were added under sticks, leaving the score at 18-0 and a whitewash looked on the cards.
Our spirited hosts had other ideas, sparking back into life wity a try out wide with the last touch of the half, leaving the score at 18-4 at the interval.
It was our hosts that scored the next two tries setting up a grandstand/nervy finish. This left the scores at 18-14 to our boys but the momentum being completely with the hosts.
Our boys had the final say though, with a barmstorming finish from Ollie next to the sticks, and progression to the next round secured.
Progression secured, heart rates raised - winning comfortably would be boring, wouldn't it. @
Up the Drig!
Scoring sequence: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 4-18, 10-18, 14-18, 14-24
HT: 4-18
FT: 14-24
Tries: Harry J x2, Jack, Ollie
Goals: Jack 4/4
