SENIOR VASE – POOL 2
SELBY RUFC 97 – 3 WINLATON VULCANS RFC

Referee – Mr. Jack Makepeace – South Yorkshire Society

PLAYED SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2013

Report by Stephen Ward

Winlaton Vulcans came to Selby for this Senior Vase fixture as massive underdogs, and so it proved with the game illustrating the gulf in class at Level 8 between the Northumberland & Durham Leagues and the Yorkshire Leagues with Selby scoring 15 tries, 11 of which were converted to the Vulcan’s solitary penalty and a final score of 97 points to 3 to Selby.

Selby were forced into changes from their selected starting XV with hooker Josh Greenfield falling ill, winger Charlton McCoy unavailable and substitute Oliver O’Brien unfit. Mark Tanner came off the bench to start at hooker; Oliver Saunders filled in on the wing with the experienced Paul Gabel starting on the bench and was also joined by backs player Alex Arthur – his first involvement since being injured early in September 2012.

Despite Winlaton playing with the advantage of a considerable breeze at their backs it took only 4 minutes for Selby to register their first score with full back Dan Porter finishing off six phases of play after prop Andrew Pocklington had made huge inroads into the Vulcan’s defence. Three minutes later skipper and flanker Duncan Hardy claimed the first of his 4 tries after great support Selby support play with Cruise putting Hardy over the line and then converting the try. Flanker James Blaymire was the next to shine beating 4 of the opposition before offloading to number 8 Martin Protheroe who sprinted 60 metres for the try after only 9 minutes. Fly half Josh Cruise was the next to score after selling an outrageous dummy and sprinting 50 metres to the try line and then converting his own effort – 24 points to nil for Selby after only 13 minutes. To their credit Winlaton then had one of their best spells of the game, looking almost certain to score after being camped on the Selby try line but a turnover by Selby allowed scrum half Chris McHale to hack the ball clear – Porter followed up hacking the ball through the Vulcan’s defence before picking up and going over for his second try, albeit completely against the run of play – Cruise kicked an excellent conversion. After 28 minutes a tap penalty on the Winlaton 5 metre line was spread wide for centre Iain Adamson to stroll over for the try once again improved by Cruise – 38 points to nil to Selby. Four minutes later, a dropped ball by the Winlaton backs was hacked on and gathered by Hardy for his second try with Cruise converting. The final action of the half saw winger Ben Lunt running through 5 would-be tacklers before touching down for Cruise to convert. The half time break came with Selby in front by 52 points to nil.

After 4 minutes of the second half, Alex Arthur joined the action at centre, replacing Alex Webster. Three minutes later Protheroe barged over the line for the second time with Cruise converting. Tries then followed in quick succession with Hardy picking up from a 5 metre scrum and diving over for his third try converted by Cruise. Now 66 points to the good, Selby increased their lead after 60 minutes with centre Alex Arthur scoring an excellent try on his comeback – Cruise conversion attempt resulted in a rare miss. Winlaton Vulcans then scored their only points of a disappointing afternoon for them when Selby were caught offside in front of the posts – centre Tibua Cakacaka made no mistake with the kick reducing Winlaton’s arrears to 76 points to 3. Selby continued to run riot with tries coming at regular intervals with Hardy scoring his 4th, Porter his 3rd and replacement second row forward Brendan Lanaghan and winger Oliver Saunders also getting in on the act – Cruise converted 3 of the tries, putting Selby in front by 97 points to 3. With 4 minutes to go the referee blew for full time, no doubt to save Winlaton the embarrassment of conceding 100 points.

Selby will now play Blyth in their next Pool fixture on 23 February which is sure to be more of a test for them than this game. The only worry for Selby now is that they could well have a massive fixture pile-up at the end of the season if they progress in this competition.

In the Yorkshire 2 League fixtures, Yarnbury were held to a draw by Bradford Salem so Selby remain in 2nd place in Yorkshire 2 with a point and a game in hand on Yarnbury.