Selby 24 Barnsley 18

Yorkshire Shield Semi Final

On a filthy April Day reminiscent of the worst that October could possibly find, the two contesting teams in this absorbing, entertaining game worked for the full eighty minutes to warm the cockles of the hardest heart.
It was the home supporters, though, who were left with that inner glow as their adored Swans stretched their wings, faltered & fluttered a little, but finally flew majestically into their second final in three years. The visitors contributed fully to the game and for periods of the game looked the most likely to progress, but will have to be satisfied with the very considerable achievement of being promoted to Yorkshire One as champions.
Selby played the first half into a hefty wind lashed with rain, and started strongly dominating territory and possession and took the lead with a Josh Cruise penalty after 8 minutes. However, Barnsley started to dictate play after the first 15 minutes and went in front with a Marlon Wragg try after 19 minutes and further increased their lead 4 minutes later with a try from Aaron Gaunt converted by Patrick Jensen. Then Jensen penalty after 37 minutes put Barnsley in front by 15 points to 3 at the break and at that point the game seemed to be slipping from the Sandhill Lane men’s grasp.
The Selby faithful had been in full voice in the packed stand, but with skipper Jensen dictating play and No 8 Reed always a problem, that voice became a little muted.

Selby dominated territory for most of the second half but in truth rarely threatened the Barnsley line in the third quarter with no further scoring from either side until the 59th minute when a determined surge on a superb line, by prop Andrew Pocklington resulted in his fourth try of the season, with Cruise converting and bringing Selby back into contention at 10 - 15 down.
With Martin Protheroe, a second half replacement, proving a real handful for the Barnsley defence, the game turned after the yellow carding of Barnsley 10 Jensen with Selby scoring almost immediately. The try was made by a surging run out of his own half, deep into the Barnsley defence by Protheroe who offloaded to another replacement, flanker Jay Robinson who forced his way to the line under the posts for an easy conversion by Cruise.
The introduction of Sam Weller into the centre, bravely returning whilst still carrying a shoulder injury, shored up the centre allowing Dan Porter to pose a threat from full back.
With Jensen carded, Appleyard took over the kicking duties for Barnsley missing his first opportunity but kicking his second to put Barnsley back in front by 18 points to 17. Selby now dominated much of the play with 2 penalty attempts missed, the second from Dan Porter from 53 metres but dropping just short. Finally Selby pressure paid off with Protheroe charging through the Barnsley defence from 35 metres and going in under the posts to give Porter a straight forward conversion and Selby a 24 points to 18 lead with only 2 minutes plus added on time to go.

The packed stand was rocking with supporters from both sides on their feet as the determined visitors built one last attack and seemed certain to score but the final pass was adjudged to be forward and from the ensuing scrum the ball was kicked dead with Selby through to face Bridlington at Hull Rugby Club on Sunday 6 May Kick Off 2 P.M in a repeat of the 2010 controversial final in which saw Brid snatch the game in the last moments.

Selby Team :
Joe Butcher
Ollie Saunders
Dan Porter
Alex Arthur
Ben Lunt
Josh Cruise
Jack Daniels ( Sam Weller HT )
Andrew Pocklington
Paul Randell ( Capt ) ( Paul Gable 60minutes )
Duncan Hardy
Brendan Lanaghan
Jason Cicero
Ollie O’Brien ( Jay Robinson HT )
James Blaymire
Ben Booth ( Martin Protheroe HT )