SENIOR VASE – SEMI FINAL
STOURBRIDGE LIONS RFC 8 – 36 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. David Huson – RFU Midlands Group
Linespersons – Ms Sarah Toll & Mr Steve Barr

Selby went through to the Final of the Senior Vase after a superb team effort at Midlands 3 West (North) side Stourbridge Lions. They will now play Gloucester Premier League outfit Drybrook RFC at Twickenham on Saturday 4 May.

In front of a substantial crowd the sides took to the field of play with winter refusing to loosen it’s icy grip with light sleet greeting the players – however this was short lived and by the time the whistle signalled the start of the contest the sun had re-appeared, although a strong wintery breeze blew down the pitch with Selby taking the kick off and Stourbridge taking advantage of the elements. Selby had the first opportunity to open the scoring with Josh Cruise missing a very optimistic penalty kick at goal and it was Stourbridge who went in front for the only time in the match with a penalty from fly half Tom Mitchell after 6 minutes. Selby were soon into their stride and took the lead 5 minutes later after a quick tap and go from a free kick led to skipper Duncan Hardy scoring an excellent unconverted try. A Stourbridge penalty miss after 17 minutes was followed 6 minutes later by a successful Cruise penalty to put Selby in front by 8 points to 3. A Martin Protheroe break after receiving from Andrew Pocklington gave Hardy another sniff of a try but he was caught short on the Stourbridge 20 metre line – it was all Selby at this point and they were nearly over for their second try after another tap and go from a free kick. The pressure finally told on Stourbridge with replacement Scott Langdon yellow carded after 29 minutes – the resultant penalty from Cruise gave Selby an 11 points to 3 advantage going into the break with Josh Greenfield having replaced Andrew Pocklington after 32 minutes and Hardy switching to prop.

Selby, now playing with the breeze, which had dropped significantly, missed another penalty chance in the 1st minute of the half but Stourbridge were also to miss their penalty chance 5 minutes later. Brendan Lanaghan replaced Martin Protheroe, who had a magnificent first half, after 48 minutes. A minute later Selby went further in front with Cruise’s second penalty of the match. Three minutes later, another yellow card for Stourbridge, this time for centre Harry Wainwright gave another penalty chance to Selby which Cruise once again despatched to put Selby in front by 17 points to 3. Selby were now exhibiting some wonderful backs play with centre Alex Webster twice foiled when he looked likely to score. Selby flanker Jacob Robinson then incurred the referee’s displeasure with a yellow card after 55 minutes – at this juncture Andrew Pocklington was back into the game replacing Hardy. Stourbridge then had their best spell of the game, roared on by their considerable support, with replacement James Meakin going over for an unconverted try in the corner – the momentum at this stage of the game was certainly with Stourbridge with Selby doing all the defending. With Hardy back at prop for Thomas Coates (how well he has played since joining the Club) after 64 minutes, Selby were defending desperately on their own line but a magnificent turnover from the forwards relieved the pressure with full back Dan Porter breaking out of defence and kicking deep into Stourbridge territory – possession was regained with the committed and hard working second row forward, Karim Brown, eventually going over for an excellent unconverted try after 65 minutes. This set-back seemed to knock the stuffing out of Stourbridge and Selby dominated most of the remainder of the game and after stealing a Stourbridge line-out after 72 minutes, Jack Daniels, Sam Weller, Charlton McCoy and Alex Webster put together some excellent back play before Hardy sold an outrageous dummy and touched down under the posts for his second try of the match – Cruise converted to give Selby an unassailable 29 points to 8 lead. Selby, with the game almost won, then rang the changes with Alex Arthur replacing Sam Weller, Iain Adamson replacing Charlton McCoy, Mark Tanner replacing Andrew Pocklington and Ben Booth replacing Karim Brown. Only 4 minutes after coming onto the field, in the second minute of added-on-time, replacement number 8 Booth had his name on the score sheet after picking up from a 5 metre scrum and diving over for Selby’s 4th try – Cruise converted with Selby now in front by 36 points to 8. There was still another 5 minutes to play and to their credit Stourbridge determinedly pressurised the Selby line after a clearance kick was charged down but another great turnover by the Selby forwards denied Stourbridge their second try with Selby the richly deserved winners.