Selby Back with a Bang

A squad of 23 responded to Head Coach Stewards call to arms following the injury list. However with the return of Locket, Foster and Raddings the competition for places was strong.

The recent rain had softened the pitch at Selby but the ground was still good and firm so again the Selby backs were looking to run the ball, which they did from the off.

A good kick off from Brods, was well taken by Selby and run back up the field, a midfield tussle developed with neither side gaining the advantage, until the ball came out on the Selby side. Wright slipped a pass to Hunt who made a short run before finding Harrison who broke strongly to the inside creating space for Taylor who took a high looping pass spun out of a tackle and then sprinted to score by finally stepping around the Brods full back.

This try set the tone for the day with the Selby backs looking clinical, creative and producing excellent defensive work.

The pressure applied by the backs lead to the next try. Brods won a scrum on their own 22, the ball came back to the fly half from their 9, who was put under pressure by Talyor.

The Brods player tried to clear with a punt but found Harrison charging down the ball and with the luck of the bounce he took the ball over for a try.

Selby were now running the ball well, however the normally competitive Selby forwards were having an off day. They were losing the ball at ruck's, mauls and the scrum was under pressure and it was only great work by Steward at hooker that allowed Selby to win any ball.

Despite this the backs were causing Brods real problems. They where in the faces of their opposite numbers all day and in the lose play McCoy was his usual disruptive self which created opportunities.

It was from a ball knocked lose by MyCoy, that was collected by Foster a try came. Foster drove forward, passed inside to Hunt and the ball found its way across the Selby back line at pace, until it was taken by Brown, he almost made the try line only to be stopped by a last min tackle. From the floor he managed to pop a short pass to Harrison who was in support and went over to score.

Shortly after this a similar move occurred, but this time it was Charlie Houson who made a great run only again to be tackled short of the line, once again Harrison was on his shoulder to take a supporting role and to go over to score under the posts.

The half ended with Brods on top from a forwards view point but with Selby out manoeuvring them in the pace and guile department.

Selby 24 Old Brods 0

The second half started with a new look Selby Side as Coach Steward continued to ring the changes to ensure that all the squad got a game.

Brods where coming back into the game well now as Selby stuttered. A lack of team performance. Was taking its toll and whilst individuals where making their mark the team performance was lacking.

The next try exemplified this, Selby had just given a try away and were not looking interested in the game, when Wright took a ball from the back of a ruck and broke blind side to out-sprint the Brods backs to score.

Brods did not give in and came back to force Selby back again, but Hunt made a great clearance kick and from the line out Selby won the ball broke right and Taylor was on hand to take a long pass from Hunt to score in the corner.

Selby forwards where starting to compete on a more equal footing and suddenly Douglas, Raddings and Leighton where causing problems. The scrum had settled a bit and Selby looked in control.

You thought the game had been killed off when Hunt took the inside option to go back into what looked like heavy traffic but broke through to score.

However Brods did not know when to give in and from the kick off they forced their way up field and their tall winger broke two tackles to score in the corner.

With 2 mins to go you would have thought that was the final score but Selby had other ideas. It was as if the Brods score had stung them into life, as from the kick off Selby won the ball, Raddings made one of his trademark runs bursting through the defence to go to ground on the right hand side of the Brods 22.

The forwards drove over and the ball came back to Leighton who stormed through three tackles to set up the ruck on the 10 meter line, at this point Brods where committing too many men to defence and Selby winning quick ball saw their opportunity, spun the ball out to the backs who ran straight and created space for Hogg to go over for his first try of the season.

A good result and some excellent individual performances.

Not least from Hunt who not only scored, but kicked four conversions on a difficult day where the wind swirled and gusted. His last effort was on target but a last min gust forced the ball down from post level to just above the ground.

Overall a good win but Selby only played the Rugby the can do for around ten mins of the game.

Good win Selby but lets get both the backs and forwards firing on all cylinders at the same time next week.

Announcement

Sadly Head Coach Steward announced that he was stepping down to spend some time watching his sons play rather than coaching them.

The players, coaches and parents of the u13's would like to thank Mark for all he has done and look forward to seeing him on the touch line at future games