Good afternoon and welcome to Sandhill Lane for our third home game of the season. It is my pleasure to welcome our old friend and adversaries from Old Crossleyans and to congratulate them on both their promotion from Yorkshire 2 last season and the almost perfect start they have had back in Yorkshire 1. Crocs currently head the table with 4 wins from 4 and have managed bonus points in three of their victories, claiming the scalps of Middlesbrough, Keighley, Dinnington and newcomers Guisborough. I am sure that all Selby players will be going out with the intention of halting Crossleyans progress this afternoon and improving our own position in the League. Our defeat at Dinnington last week was frustrating to say the very least and I am sure everybody involved will be grateful for the opportunity to put things right this week.

It was really good to see that we have been able to turn out 4 sides for the last 2 weeks and my congratulations and thanks go to Captains, Managers and players involved in our lower sides. The 2s have been particularly impressive so far this season and there is certain to be stiff competition for starting places in the firsts in the coming weeks and hopefully througout the season. The thirds have also found some decent early season form and recently claimed bragging rights in their derby match with York. The 4ths also enjoyed a big win in their season opener against Wath thirds before coming up against a Knaresborough team which were apparently strengthened by the lack of a first team fixture. We have enjoyed a successful start to the season as a Club and welcomed a number of new players at all levels so I trust that our new faces have been made to feel welcome and are enjoying their time with us.

Last Sunday our Academy side travelled over to Doncaster and pulled off a memorable victory agains a big physical Doncaster team for a second victory of the season and I would like to offer my congratulations to skipper Harriison Green and all his squad members who are showing the benefits of regular training and excellent coaching. I know that a tremendous amount of work goes in to providing playing opportunities for kids from Under 6s right through to Under 18s and I would like to place on record my personal thanks to all our volunteers who make this such a vibrant, welcoming and inclusive Club.

We are of course greatly indebted to all those companies and individuals who kindly sponsor our first XV fixtures and I hope that today's Sponsors thoroughly enjoy their afternoon in the Swan's Nest and the hospitality that we are proud to be able to provide.

Next week sees us replay the opening fixture of the season when Hullensians return to Sandhill Lane. There will be no entry fee for the game but members and visitors will be invited to make a donation to charity on entry and our excellent Programme will be on sale as usual.

Prior to the Middlesbrough game on Saturday 20th October I intend to host a pre match lunch for our Vice Presidents and Honorary Life members and would like to take this opportunity to invite them all to have a word with me to book their places as the popularity of the event increases year on year.

Finally a gentle reminder to everybody taking part in or spectating this afternoon's game to please show respect to the match officials, players from both sides and other spectators. There is nothing better than a hard fought game of Rugby played out in front of a knowledgeable and friendly crowd and we all have to play our part in ensuring that everybody here this afternoon can go home afterwards having enjoyed some great entertainment, whether a player, flag man, referee, water boy, allickadoo or a member of the paying public. We have a duty to all visitors to Sandhill to ensure that their afternoon is not ruined by the actions of one or two individuals and that everybody adheres to the RFU sugested Code of Conduct, so I would ask that everybody makes sure that they behave in a manner befitting our great game.