Selby RUFC 38 - 0 Ilkley RFC

YORKSHIRE RFU MERIT TABLE - CHAMPIONSHIP.

SELBY RUFC 2ND XV 38 – 0 ILKLEY RFC 2ND XV

Ilkley came to Sandhill Lane on Saturday as unbeaten leaders of the Championship Merit League with a 100% record in their 9 matches played prior to this game. Their unbeaten run came to shuddering halt as Selby proved just how difficult a side they are to beat on home turf with 4 wins and a draw from their 5 Merit Table games played to date. In a game in which Ilkley rarely threatened the Selby line a couple of converted tries and a penalty gave Selby a 17 points to nil advantage at the break – 3 more converted tries in the second half saw Selby gain a comprehensive bonus point win by 38 points to nil.

Early Selby pressure resulted in Ilkley being caught offside in front of their posts after 3 minutes giving Selby full back Matthew Torn an easy penalty conversion. Ilkley had the chance to equalise 7 minutes later but the penalty chance went wide. Selby were down to 14 men after 13 minutes with skipper Kevin Lamb yellow carded for not retreating 10 metres but this made little difference to a rampant Selby who forged further in front 4 minutes later after a determined break by Paul Gabel from the Selby 22 metre line and carried on by Robert Bourke who put Nick Firth over for the try converted by Torn and a 10 points to nil lead. After 25 minutes a penalty to the Ilkley 10 metre line created immense pressure from the Selby forwards who were unable to breach Ilkley’s defence but when the ball was eventually spread to the backs Selby centre Rich Topping dummied his way over for the try, once again improved by the reliable Matthew Torn. With Robert Bourke, who had been a handful throughout the first 30 minutes, replaced by Martin Protheroe, Selby then found themselves on the defensive but Ilkley were continually thwarted by the Selby forwards who turned over possession on a regular basis. Despite more Selby pressure half time arrived with Selby 17 points to nil to the good.

Despite being in the ascendancy at the start of the second half, over eagerness and handling errors, albeit probably created by a greasy ball in the cold, wet conditions, prevented any further score by Selby until the 56th minute, although special mention should be made of a couple of excellent runs by centre and skipper Kevin Lamb which came to nought. When the try came, it came from veteran, and still looking every inch an accomplished player, Duncan Phillips, who after tremendous Selby pressure sold an outrageous dummy before squeezing through the gap to touch down and give Matthew Torn his fourth successful kick of the afternoon and Selby a 24 points to nil lead. Three minutes later Selby went further in front when a kick deep into the Ilkley half was fielded by the Ilkley full back but their possession was turned over with Selby spreading the ball wide to create a huge overlap giving winger Stephen Clark a try he had threatened to score all afternoon – once again Torn converted to give Selby an unassailable 31 points to nil advantage. Ilkley then started to pressurise the Selby line but once again the Selby forwards turned over possession and the danger passed. In the penultimate minute of the game Selby wrapped up proceedings when excellent inter-passing between Tom Ambler and Stephen Clark resulted in a try under the posts for Clark’s second try of the game – Torn added the extras to cement a comprehensive 38 points to nil victory for Selby and inflict upon Ilkley their first defeat in the Championship Merit League.

This was an excellent display from Selby’s second string and cements their place in the upper reaches of the Merit League – taking them from 4th position to 3rd – probably out of reach of actually winning the League but with every possibility of finishing in 2nd place providing they can improve on their away form. Special mention must go to the forwards who, although up against a bigger pack, provided the platform for this latest win.