Selby Bring Christmas cheer with win over Malton & Norton

On a day when conditions felt closer to October than mid December, Selby hosted visitors Malton & Norton for the return home fixture having previously beaten them away in September.

Malton kicked off playing towards Leeds Road, a clean catch by Selby’s Jamie Ibbetson enabled Selby to launch an attack from just outside their 22 with forwards and backs combining well, giving an early indication of things to come. With M&N caught offside at one of the rucks Selby cleared their lines. A good jump at the line-out and Selby again went on the attack going through phase after phase with new recruit Paul Townsend driving powerfully and Henry Wright darting as Selby made steady yards. Trying to force an unlikely pass, Selby gave up possession of the ball which enabled M&N to clear their lines. The failed kick to touch allowed Wright to pounce and send the ball back with interest, deep into the opposition’s 22 to set up a 50/22 line out. On the second attempt a well rehearsed and executed training move at the line-out saw Max Wotton peel around the front and drive over the line wide on the right to open the scoring for Selby with just 5 minutes played

The early score seemed to focus the visitors’ minds as they too began to put phase after phase together and after a break by Scrum Half P Angus put Malton behind the gain line Selby were penalised when attempting to nullify the attack with Wotton guilty of diving over the ruck to tackle the Scrum Half before the ball was judged to be out, resulting in a penalty to Malton and a yellow card for Wotton. The penalty from in front of the posts was easily converted by J Bulmer to reduce the deficit to 5 points to 3 after 10 minutes

As the game settled into a steady rhythm, both sides showed a willingness to attack but forcing the final pass regularly allowed both teams to clear their lines and start again. Another sniping break by the M&N scrum half again enabled M&N to get in behind the Selby defensive line and following a couple of good offloads and a clever chip through M&N went over for a well deserved try under the posts. The conversion by Bulmer after 24 minutes put the visitors into the lead at 10-5 but also marked the last time they would trouble the score-sheet as Selby put in a steely determined defensive effort

With Wotton back on the field and a realisation that they had a real game on their hands, Selby kicked off and immediately regained possession. Quick ball and slick handling soon took them to within 5 metres of the visitors’ line. Two infringements in quick succession by M&N saw them also lose a man to the sinbin for 10 minutes. A quick tap and several forward bursts created the chance for Jamie Dentith to crash over, the try subsequently converted by Wright to restore the home side’s advantage at 12 points to 10

Buoyed by their rapid riposte, Selby immediately went on the attack again and after making their way up to M&N 22 quick ball and slick handling saw a lovely floated pass land in Winger Joe Ramsay’s hands who easily outstripped the defence and swallow dived over the line to make the score 17 -10 with the conversion by Wright stretching the advantage to a more comfortable19-10

Joe Ramsay was again in the spotlight after Selby regained possession from the kick-off, and as they played out of their half a clever chip through by the speedy young winger saw him in a foot race with Scrum Half Archie Bennett. Ramsay won the race and pounced on the ball as it skidded over the line to claim his second try, the failed conversion giving Selby a deserved 24 -10 advantage going into the half time break.

Malton started the Second half well and put real pressure on Selby’s try line with a driving line out putting them within inches of a score. Further pressure followed but again a mistake when forcing the pass saw the visitors give up possession and enabled Selby to clear their lines. A number of well judged kicks saw Selby gain a foothold in the M&N 22 for the first time in the half, however unusually sloppy handing allowed M&N to gain good field possession and within the blink of an eye Selby were again camped on their own line.

Not fazed by this Selby ran the ball from under their posts and galloped away down the pitch. Some 13 phases later, following repeated excellent interplay between forwards and backs, Full Back Ben Poskitt dived over in the far right corner to score the best team try of the day, bringing rapturous applause from the large crowd and extending the Selby lead to 29-10 after 55 minutes.

Selby’s heads were now well and truly up and their defence also stepped up another gear. When M&N coughed up possession having regained the kick off, Selby pounced with Townend feeding Bennett who launched a perfectly judged kick down field for Ramsay to chase. There was only ever going to be one winner in the ensuing race as the flyer sped over the line to claim an outstanding individual hat trick, making sure that there would be no way back for the visitors at 34 points to 10

M&N were not for giving up and they kept attacking, with backs and forwards driving upfield. This again forced Selby into defensive mode and some good aggressive counter-rucking enabled them to regain possession. A good deep kick down field and great pressure from the Selby back three forced M&N back onto their own try line.

With Charlie Bramley on at 9 and with an attacking scrum in front of the M&N posts, a well worked backs; move saw the replacement Scrum Half glide over in the far right hand corner to make the score 39-10. Ramsay was able to show the full extent of his repertoire as he slotted the resulting conversion from close to the touchline to complete the home side’s scoring at 41-10.

The game ended with a familiar pattern of M&N attacking, Selby dominant in defence, causing turn over ball and showing good discipline to clear their lines.

This was a dominant display from the young Selby side. They played the conditions superbly. They defended with aggression and discipline and more importantly they were patient in possession, enabling them to control the score board. Tougher games undoubtedly lie ahead in the New Year, but the entire squad can enjoy the Christmas break, sitting at the top of a very competitive League having played some outstanding Rugby in the first half of the season and giving their faithful supporters plenty of Yuletide cheer.