Selby welcomed a strong looking Moortown on Saturday for their fourth league fixture. Selby came into the game with their tails up after securing maximum points so far this season, it was therefore something of a shock and a wake-up call when Moortown took a lead with a penalty in the first minute as Selby were penalised for being offside.

However, Selby replied after five minutes as a penalty on halfway was kicked to touch and the ball taken into midfield with strong runs by Broughton and Hogan before Selby were awarded a penalty that Wright converted to level at three-all.

The referee penalised both sides for offside but it was Moortown who took advantage as Collier kicked his second penalty.

Play continued to be even until Henry Wright’s well-placed cross field kick to the right-hand corner found Reuben Callau to score. The next significant action saw Broughton yellow carded for a late tackle in centre field and Hollier kicked his third penalty to make the score nine eight after twenty minutes. Shortly after, Moortown extended this lead following a break by Hollier with fullback Walmsley scoring a try that was converted. This was followed by another penalty to make the score nineteen-eight to Moortown.

Selby were back to full numbers as half time neared and needed to score. This was looking unlikely until play was stopped for an altercation that the referee, unfortunately, didn’t see the start of between Matt Lodge and the somewhat larger Moortown second row. From the resulting scrum, followed by a perfect miss-pass from Poskitt, Joe Ramsay found himself weaving through the Moortown defence and turning on the after burners for a fine score that was converted by Wright to make the score Selby 15 Moortown 19 at halftime .

Only three minutes into the second half and Selby received a second yellow as Callau was penalised for a blatant tap down that seemed, to most, to go backwards. Selby seemed galvanised by this and after good work by the forwards, fullback, Ben Poskitt made a clean break and spectacular offload into the hands of replacement Quinten McGrory-Hill, who scored in the corner for Selby to retake the lead, much to the delight of the Ladies who had finished their lunch.

The lead changed hands again ten minutes later as winger Houghton strolled through the middle for a try that was converted as players from both sides appeared to stop for crossing. Looking to retake the lead, Selby controlled possession well and forced Moortown to concede penalties. Selby were camped in the 22 when a pick and go from the base of a scrum saw Liam Hogan force his way over in the corner. A missed conversion leaving Selby trailing by a point.

The final and winning try was created by replacement winger Dan Reid who blazed from half way to well inside the 22. The ball was quickly shipped across the pitch to the Player of the Match, Sam Broughton, who powered over for a try, to the delight of Selby teammates and supporters. The last 12 minutes saw an even tussle with no further scoring. Alarm bells rang just the once as Houghton again opened up the defence only to be brought down by Archie Bennett as Selby closed the game out.

Now second in the table Selby are away at Morley on Saturday.