Slow Start for the Green Machine

Like an Anton DuBec quick step Selby were slow slow quick quick but fortunately they did not go back to slow.

Starting well on a cold but bright morning in Acklam the Selby squad hit the ground running and soon caught a Middlesbrough side fresh from a 48-0 win over Bradford napping.

6 mins into the game a quick ball from the scrum found Hunt who whipped a ball out to Taylor who made a great burst through the center.

Going to ground he set up the ruck that was won by Selby and Harrison hit Stoker with sharp pass that the red headed winger snapped up and powered off down the wing to go in at the corner for a try.

Selby then lost the plot a bit. Hunt was penalised for a number of offences, Harrison was buried at a ruck, Tinker (Taylor)and Stoker went all fingers and thumbs and the ever dependable "HOBE" missed a couple of tackles. Suddenly Selby were playing all their rugby in the wrong parts of the field.

Middlesbrough took advantage of this and with good work from their 9/10 combination and strong running from their back row they found themselves 12-5 up at half time.

Perhaps shades of things to come did show themselves just after the second Middlesbrough try. MDC for the Day Ade Smith ran over to talk to the lads under the post only to find a full blown rollicking session from Harrison and Raddings to the rest of the team about how they were letting themselves down and could play so much better.

What ever the reason Selby suddenly had a spring in their step and from the kick off they gathered the ball and made ground through the forwards, with the ball then being spread wide thorough the backs to Stoker who but for a foot on the line would have gone into score.

The second half started better for Selby they looked more alive and were playing more controlled rugby.

The scrum which had worked well all day continued to perform with Selby taking a number against the head.

Also play in the loose improved, Socket and the Assassin were counter rucking well and from their efforts at a ruck Selby won a penalty. Sense now prevailing Hunt put a kick into touch for a Selby line out.

This was set up for a planned Selby move, the lads dropped down to a four man line causing Middlesbrough consternation and panic as they tried to adjust to the shorter line out. Selby's put in from Smith was good and Leighton took the ball fed to Raddings who drove over from short range for a try.

Middlesbrough not down and out quickly came back and from a great sidestepping run from the ten the big outside center made ground beating a number of Selby tackles to go over.

This time last season that might have been game over for Team GM but this is a different bunch of players now. Forged by the heat of battle and the Pontins accommodation at Southport these lads will not go quietly into the norther night.

Back they came with flowing aggressive rugby, the backs running a switch move off the wing followed up by a blindside move from Hunt that allowed him to kick to the left wing where the ball was chased down and the Middlesbrough backs were put under pressure. Back the ball came inside as the Middlesbrough players tried to clear their lines. Problem was every where they looked there was a green shirt. HOBE back to his best was flattening people all around him. Sockett, Crazy Horse Leighton and Genn were working non stop to keep the pressure on.

Twice Middlesbrough were saved by the whistle as the match official (Andy Scott) blew just before Selby took advantage of a Middlesbrough error under pressure to score.

Eventually the work of the Selby team took it's toll with the ball being put back to the Middlesbrough full back who under pressure tried to clear his lines only to find Jordan "Richie" McCoy (who was back to his very vintage best rampaging at every breakdown) catching the ball under the posts to go over for a try. Hunt converted.

With 5 mins left Selby came back straight from the start and turned over the ball.

They worked their way upfield with a series of driving runs and then went wide keeping the ball alive with a number of pop passes from the ground and contact until the had driven Middlesbrough back to their 10 meter.

They then broke right drawing in the Middlesbrough big men and suddenly spring the ball left to find Stoker who dove over for the final score of the game.

Hunt form a very difficult angle hit the cross bar and despite a spirited effort from Middlesbrough in the last two mins Selby closed out the game to take a close but well deserved win.