There were some positives with the set piece working better than it has recently, however, there were far too many turnovers and missed tackles, which gave Driffield the initiative and their finishing was clinical. They had the gale and the slope behind them from the start, and despite starting with soime good possession rugby we struggled to get out of the 22.
Driff went ahead when we went to sleep after good tackling by Peter Youll had denied the home side. Referee Tom Hurdley awarded a penalty ten metres out which was quickly taken by scrum half Craig Gray with second row Jim Dinsdale powering over.
We soon went 14 points behind with left winger Joe Robinson going over despite claims there had been crossing in midfield.
In the first foray into the home half we did reduce the arrears after Luke Mallinson was bundled into touch the left. Driffield won their own throw only for the knock back to break loose over the line - both John Bunter and Scott Butcher the first to the ball with Butcher claiming the touchdown.
Gavin Painter's kick into the gale was wide but home full back Ben Dearing added a penalty with disaster striking from the restart. Dinsdale collected the kick and a missed tackle allowed him to burst into the West half with fellow second row Olli Cooper in support.
Once again tackling let us down as the ball was offloaded to centre Alex Piercy to run in.
We were dealt a further blow when an indignant Gavin Painter was yellow carded - after the referee spotted a hand on the floor - and Driffield took full advantage.
On the stroke off half time No 8 Will Burns went in at the corner despite valiant efforts from Andrew Rollins to keep the attack at bay.
There was time for a rare West attack up the right with Driffield penalized twice only for the attack to break down when Matt Siddle knocked on.
We turned round 34-5 in arrears and with the elements now in our favour – despite Gav still being in the sin bin we needed a strong start.
It wasn't to be. Driffield forced their way upfield with Dinsdale again powering over from close range.
We finally built up some pressure with home prop Allessandro Zavati yellow carded for killing the ball. The penalty was kicked to the corner with the pack driving over and Adam Coates emerging as the scorer.
The kick was missed, but we kept up the territorial advantage only to fail when it came to stopping the home side's strong running and support play.
Fly half Sam Furbank finished a flowing move up the left wing after another missed tackle on the left wing.
And at 44-10 down we were dealt another blow when desperate defence led to skipper Ryan Painter incurring the wrath of Mr Hurdley and a yellow card.
That attack was broken up by Zac Southern who intercepted ten metres from the line. His gallop downfield held brief hopes of a runaway try until he was caught by the home side's speedy backs as he desperately looked for non-existent support.
However, the visitors did add to their score when hard working Andy Turner peeled off the back of a scrum to force his way over with Southern quickly converting thanks to a dropkick.
With three tries under the belt we were looking for that consolation bonus point even if the 44-17 score had taken the game completely away from us.
Unfortunately, it was Driffield who seized the initiative with No 8 Burns blasting through three tacklers to set up an easy conversion.
However, we were not to be denied the consolation thanks to a strong run for the line from Jordan Baggs. He was stopped, and dispossessed, ten metres from the posts only for the home defenders to kindly spill the ball backwards - Peter Youll gratefully diving on the ball to give Southern another easy drop goal conversion.
With one point secured the visitors would have been happy for the referee to blow for time. Instead Driffield scored the try of the game with the very last move as Furbank finished off some slick passing to race away under the posts.
Driffield: Ben Dearing, Ben Lawrence, Gary Stephenson, Alex Piercy, Joe Robinson, Sam Furbank, Craig Gray, Mark Blenkinsop, Guy Brumfield, Alessandro Zavatti, Olli Cooper, James Dinsdale, George Mewburn, Rob Mewburn, Will Burns.
Reps all used; Harry Grant, Paul Dervey, James Watts.
Tries: Dinsdale (3), Robinson, Piercy, Burns (2), Furbank (2),
Conversions: Dearing (5)
Penalties: Dearing (1)
Yellow: Zavatti
West: Luke Mallinson, Will Hilditch, Peter Youll, Gavin Painter, Matt Siddle, Zac Southern, Ryan Painter (captain), Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Alex Key, Joe Rafferty, John Bunter, Scott Butcher, Jordan Baggs, Andy Turner,
Reps (all used) Jake Lingihan, Adam Peacock, Craig Hadwen.
Tries: Butcher, Coates, Turner, Youll.
Conversions: Southern (2)
Yellow: G. Painter, R. Painter
Referee: Tom Hurdley (Yorkshire)