Selby RUFC 2nd XV 46 - 21 Old Brodleians RUFC 2nd XV.

YORKSHIRE RFU MERIT TABLE - CHAMPIONSHIP.

SELBY RUFC 2ND XV 46 – 21 OLD BRODLEIANS RUFC 2ND XV

PLAYED SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2012

Selby gave an excellent, highly entertaining display in this Championship Merit Table fixture against a bigger and, what seemed like, in the warm up at least, an organised Old Brodleians 2nd string. However, Selby went on to dominate large parts of the game, outscoring their opponents by 7 tries to 3 and running out comfortable winners by 46 points to 21.

Selby had a dream start with Yorkshire Under 18 player Charlie McCoy (who has recently been called up to the North of England Trials) spotting a gap in the Brodleians defence and sprinting 50 metres for an unconverted try in the first minute. Old Brodleians, in probably their best spell of the game, came back strongly and took the lead with a converted try after 7 minutes to lead by 7 points to 5. Selby should have then gone on to put more points on the board but below par handling skills let them down for a five minute spell but with a Brodleians player binned after 18 minutes, Selby took immediate advantage with number 8 Robert Bourke, who was a handful throughout the game, claiming Selby’s second unconverted try after a successful catch and drive from the Brodleians 10 metre line. Selby went further ahead after 23 minutes when scrum half Chris McHale scurried over for a try on the blind side to put Selby in front by 15 points to 7. A successful Matthew Torn penalty after 26 minutes was followed by the same player scoring a try after the ball was spread wide from a 5 metre scrum – this time the conversion by Torn sailed over giving Selby a 25 points to 7 advantage. Brodleians reduced their arrears with a try in the last minute of the half with an excellent conversion to follow with Selby in front at the break by 25 points to 14.

Five minutes into the second half Selby went further in front with Mark Tanner touching down after another successful catch and drive with Torn kicking a superb conversion and giving Selby a 32 points to 14 lead. Two minutes later Selby were almost out of sight with the best try of the game with skipper Kevin Lamb making an excellent break fully 65 metres from the Brodleians line carried on by Rich Topping and finished by Charlie McCoy for his second try – Torn once again converted with Selby leading now by 39 points to 14. With another Brodleians player in the bin after 55 minutes, it was only a matter of time before Selby increased their lead with Torn scoring his second try of the game and once again kicking the conversion 46 – 14 to Selby. Selby continued to threaten the Brodleians line with Robert Bourke held up but with a rare foray into Selby territory Brodleians scored a consolation try in the last minute of the game – again followed by an excellent conversion to make the final score 46 points to 21 to Selby.

This was an impressive all round performance by Selby against a much bigger outfit with their forwards holding the upper hand throughout the game and with the backs playing some exciting running rugby and augers well for the future of the game at Selby.