Cracking Game of Rugby for the u15s

This afternoon a Selby squad of 20 lads battled the weather and traffic to arrive in Bradford for what turned out to be an excellent game.

Whilst the weather was cold and gloomy the match was anything but, both teams putting on a committed display of defence and attack in very wet conditions on a heavy pitch.

There was very little between the sides, Selby dominated the scrummaging but unable to find a breakthrough and when the hosts attacked Dan G and Dan J produced some great tackling to stop there being any score.

It remained even for all of the half however, in the last play Bradford managed to break through and score a converted try to lead 7-0 at half time.

Selby heads were still high and started the second half with purpose, forcing a knock on from kick off and from the resulting scum Lawrence was able to find some space and muscle his way over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 7-5.

Before Selby could begin to build on this Bradford returned the favour with a score of their own. Controlled possession took the hosts into the Selby 22 three minutes later, and multiple phases drawing in the Selby defence, created an overlap for their winger to beat the scrambling defence and extend the lead to 12-5.

The game was back and forth for the next 15 minutes and Selby began to dominate the ball and keeping the ball within the forwards, drives and patience kept getting the boys to the hosts line but not across.

Pressure finally told on 50 minutes when Lawrence again saw a gap, picked the ball and with the support of his fellow forwards drove himself, the ball, and half the Bradford team over the try line for his second score of the game and when Charlie A added the conversion it was a level game at 12-12.

Back again came Bradford, and with some strong runs and drives created pressure of their own and when they reached the Selby line, despite desperate attempts to hold the players and ball up were able to get a grounding on 54 minutes and retake the lead 17-12.

With 6 minutes remaining Selby gave it everything they had, driving as hard as they could to break the home side’s defensive line, three times they were within touching distance of the line but when the final whistle went Selby were within a metre of the Bradford posts but adjudged to have knocked on.

All the boys gave it everything today, they all stepped up a level and the coaches were proud of the effort and commitment displayed by each and every one. This was the best performance of the season and whilst the scoreboard was not positive, everything else we witnessed was.

Bring on Scunthorpe next week!