Selby 3rds 32 vs. Goole 2nds 10

It was a vintage Selby performance in the Easter fixture with close neighbours Goole. The weather gods were kind allowing the game to go ahead and both teams eager for a run-out provided an enjoyable spectacle for the watching masses.
The Swans imposed themselves on opponents who had their hands full with a strong Selby line-up encamped on their twenty two. Goole didn’t manage to cross the halfway line for the first twenty five minutes however it is a testament to their efforts in denying Selby for so long
Ben Spence finally crossed for Selby, getting on the end of good approach work by the now fully functioning Danny White. White’s attempted conversion caught the breeze and passed harmlessly the wrong side of the upright
Selby extended the lead just before the break when Nick Firth’s impressive burst took him through Goole’s defence and over the whitewash and with the conversion added Selby were 12-0 up. All was looking good for half time when from the restart Spence became the focus of the match official’s attention and was presented with a yellow card for his efforts
Restarting with 14 men didn’t appear to negatively impact on the Swans who blew a Rew Nicklin sized hole through tattered Goole defence to plunder another five points.
With ten minutes remaining and Selby back at full strength Firth reprised his first half effort receiving the final pass from excellent running from Jamie Safford and deft handling by Simon Lewis. Nicklin crossed again to raise the score to 27-0 and it became a possibility that Goole would return home potless.
This thought must have seeped into the Goole psyche and they suddenly rallied and blasted through disinterested Selby defence to secure an unconverted try. Karl I’Anson in his first run-out after returning from the Antipodes delivered the Selby riposte however Goole had got their mad up and stole a further try as the match official was raising his whistle to his lips to blow time
Again some performances of note include Jamie Skelton’s first half cameo, full of endeavour and determination. The pack had been shuffled to cover injuries and absences however Lewis, Mick Welsh and Neil Williams had notable games with some classy input. Mickey Parsonage and Kevin Lamb asked an extensive range of questions of the Goole defence and supported and prompted their young team mates throughout.