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Driffield Player Profile - Will Hughes (Ex-Sandal 1XV)
Justin English19 Dec 2024 - 09:03
@rfu @yrfu
When did you play for Sandal and for how many years? I played in the disrupted 2019/20 season; I played parts throughout the season coming to Sandal on a loan basis for two memorable stints throughout the season.
Who was the best player you played alongside during your time at Sandal? Great question, there was some serious talent floating around that year, I’d probably have to say a proper Sandal lad, Tommy Allott, he made a big impact coming into the team, rock solid in defence and class on the attack.
Who was the longest in the shower during your time at Sandal? Probably can’t look further than Jimmy Stewart never a hair out of place.
Best memory in a Sandal shirt? At the time Macclesfield were one of the top teams in Nat 3, we went away to an absolute bog of a pitch, the weather was horrendous, sideways rain all game, the boys dug right in, the team was class, 3x Thompson bros, the 2 Allots, Stewart, Hopkinson, Townsend, Greg Wood, just to mention a few, we came away with a hard fought victory and really set us up for a big end to the season.
You're now based with Driffield - how did you end up in that neck of the woods?
Actually, a Malton lad, but after I came back from working in New Zealand I fancied a crack in the league above, always had some hard fought games with Driffield, always had a good craic with the lads, and being heavily involved with the farming community it’s a club that has always appealed to me and my family. It’s been great to get involved with over the past 2 seasons, with some silverware along the way.
What do you feel Driffield are doing well at the moment on and off the pitch? At times we have been playing some nice running rugby, our set piece has been going from strength to strength.
It's set to be a big game today, which Sandal player will you warn your Driffield teammates about and why? Has to be Austen Thompson, he’s one of those players you love to have on your team but a handful when he is playing against you, a big ball carrier and hard hitting in defence, don’t want too many one-on-one collisions against him.
Driffield have had some really close results this season, how have they been trying to combat this throughout the season? Just trying and be more clinical when we get opportunities in the opposition 22, try and up the conversion rate when we get into those positions
Proudest moment on a rugby field? I think from my standpoint a real highlight is playing at Twickenham with Yorkshire U20’s in a Roses match, we ran out heavy winners, it was such an experience to represent the county and play with a good group of lads.
Do you ever see yourself pulling on the Dal shirt ever again? Good question, never say never, however where I am currently living in the county it would make it difficult for me to get down to the Dal.
What did you enjoy the most when you were playing for Sandal? The whole atmosphere of the club, a great club with some good people around it, the Bedford boys really helped me get into the fold quickly and efficiently, then the lads on the pitch were always happy to answer and questions and get me up to speed.
Who was the best player you played alongside during your time at Sandal? Great question, there was some serious talent floating around that year, I’d probably have to say a proper Sandal lad, Tommy Allott, he made a big impact coming into the team, rock solid in defence and class on the attack.
Who was the longest in the shower during your time at Sandal? Probably can’t look further than Jimmy Stewart never a hair out of place.
Best memory in a Sandal shirt? At the time Macclesfield were one of the top teams in Nat 3, we went away to an absolute bog of a pitch, the weather was horrendous, sideways rain all game, the boys dug right in, the team was class, 3x Thompson bros, the 2 Allots, Stewart, Hopkinson, Townsend, Greg Wood, just to mention a few, we came away with a hard fought victory and really set us up for a big end to the season.
You're now based with Driffield - how did you end up in that neck of the woods?
Actually, a Malton lad, but after I came back from working in New Zealand I fancied a crack in the league above, always had some hard fought games with Driffield, always had a good craic with the lads, and being heavily involved with the farming community it’s a club that has always appealed to me and my family. It’s been great to get involved with over the past 2 seasons, with some silverware along the way.
What do you feel Driffield are doing well at the moment on and off the pitch? At times we have been playing some nice running rugby, our set piece has been going from strength to strength.
It's set to be a big game today, which Sandal player will you warn your Driffield teammates about and why? Has to be Austen Thompson, he’s one of those players you love to have on your team but a handful when he is playing against you, a big ball carrier and hard hitting in defence, don’t want too many one-on-one collisions against him.
Driffield have had some really close results this season, how have they been trying to combat this throughout the season? Just trying and be more clinical when we get opportunities in the opposition 22, try and up the conversion rate when we get into those positions
Proudest moment on a rugby field? I think from my standpoint a real highlight is playing at Twickenham with Yorkshire U20’s in a Roses match, we ran out heavy winners, it was such an experience to represent the county and play with a good group of lads.
Do you ever see yourself pulling on the Dal shirt ever again? Good question, never say never, however where I am currently living in the county it would make it difficult for me to get down to the Dal.
What did you enjoy the most when you were playing for Sandal? The whole atmosphere of the club, a great club with some good people around it, the Bedford boys really helped me get into the fold quickly and efficiently, then the lads on the pitch were always happy to answer and questions and get me up to speed.
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