We will go into 2017 still on top of North One East but only by the most slender of margins.  Pocklington's bonus point win at Guisborough means they draw level on points - so we are now only on top by virtue of the fact we have lost less games. 
With eight regular players unavailable for various reasons we finished the game with three 17 year olds in the pack - that wasn't a factor in the dramatic defeat.

That came with just one minute left on the clock. We had increased the lead to 13-7 just minutes earlier when Carl Miller finished off a forwards drive with the conversion attempt agonizingly bouncing back off a post. 
From the restart referee Dave Downham penalised West 40 meters out, but that quickly became 30 meters for backchat – not for the first time in the game. 
The ball was pumped into the corner, and with Driffiield committing backs into the maul  hooker Paul Brumfield managed to touch down with Will Brigham slotting the conversion to give his side the one point lead. 
We attacked strongly up the left from the restart. Rob Thorn caused panic in the home ranks resulting in one of the defenders throwing the ball into touch. 
Referee Downham awarded the penalty five meters from the left touchmline,  and in front of a baying crowd on the balcony of the Driffield clubhouse. 
Gavin Painter had struggled with his goalkicking,  but bravely opted for an attempt on goal instead of looking for a line-out in the corner. 
With the catcalls from the clubhouse showing no signs of being silenced (they appeared to be sponsor's guests not regular rugby supporters)  his effort had the distance. However, it drifted across the face of the posts to give the home side a win that hadn't looked likely for 78 minutes of the game. 
We had started brightly with Sam Miller taking a Driffield line-out close to their line, but his powerful burst  ended when he was bundled into touch at the flag. 
Gavin Painter then had the chance to get some early points on the board with a penalty kick just to the right of the posts but his effort was wide. 
We  kept up the pressure with Driffield defending desperately at times and giving away a number of penalties. 
However they scored a simple try with only their second foray into West territory. 
It came on 20 minutes when the ball was passed through the backs and with the West defence flatfooted winger Joe Robinson passed back inside for centre Gary Stephenson to gallop home under the posts. 
We continued to have the lion's share of the play, only for a combination  of stout defence and mistakes meaning we had to be content with j penalty from Painter just before the break.  
Driffield had lost scrum half Craig Gray to the sin-bin with Mr Downham losing patience in the number of penalties being conceded. 
Playing up the slope we continued to dominate territory in the second half and eventually the pressure paid.  
Eldon Myers was the scorer after the pack forced the defence back on the left with quick ball along the backs creating the space out wide for the West centre. 
Zac Southern had replaced Painter at fly half and his kick was just wide but his side were finally in front. 
With just a few minutes on the clock it looked like Carl Miller's try would be enough to win the game, but the six point margin was to prove to be not enough. 

Driffield:  Sam Furbank, Joe Robinson, Gary Stephenson, Sam Moore, Lester Bell, Will Brigham, Craig Gray, Felix Nellon, Guy Brumfield, Paul Dervey (capt), Olly Cooper, Harrison Dodds, George Mewburn, Rob Mewburn, Will Burns. 
Reps (all used): Fran Pavchenko, Marlk Blenkinsop, Olly Borman. 
Tries: Stephenson, Brumfield. 
Conversion: Brigham (2) 
Yellow: Gray 

West: Zac Southern, Luke Mallinson,  Eldon Myers, Peter Youll, Rob Thorn, Gavin Painter, Ryan Painter, Tim Blades, Ross Wood, Michael Hogan,  John Bunter, Jake Linighan, Carl Miller, Dan Boatman (capt), Sam Miller. 
 Reps (all Used) Greg Edwards, Jordan Foulds, Adam Brown. 
Tries: Myers, C Miller. 
Pens: G Painter (1) 
Referee: Dave Downham (Yorkshire