YORKSHIRE SHIELD FIRST ROUND.
MOORTOWN RUFC 0 – 64 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. Brian Mulligan – Central Yorkshire Society

Selby started their season in fine style with a resounding victory in the First Round of the Yorkshire Shield at Yorkshire 2 side Moortown on Saturday. Averaging more than a point a minute they built up a 45 points to nil lead by half time and went on to win by 64 points to nil. They will now play Keighley in Round 2 at Sandhill Lane on Saturday 16 November (Kick Off 1415 hours).

Without numerous first choice players from last season due to holidays and unavailability, Selby gave new signings Neil Francis at scrum half, New Zealand duo Thomas Cobley (second row) and Teihana Brown (centre) and Under 19 Alex Oliver in the second row, their debuts in competitive rugby for Selby with their third New Zealander Rihi Brown on the bench.

Despite a bright start from Moortown, it didn’t take long for Selby, who were playing with the advantage of a strong breeze at their backs, to register their first score after a dropped ball by the Moortown backs, and with advantage being played by the referee, Selby gathered the loose ball with winger Ben Lunt the eventual recipient of the try converted by Josh Cruise. Five minutes later, flanker Jacob Robinson scored the first of his hat-trick of tries from close range after intense pressure from the Selby pack on the Moortown 5 metre line – Cruise obliged with the conversion. Only a minute later Moortown were down to 14 men after their number 7, Mike Bairstow, for the second time, tackled Matthew Wood in mid air from the restart. From the resultant penalty Selby won their line out 15 metres out and after some excellent back-up play, flanker Jacob Robinson went over for his second try once again converted by Cruise. Only 10 minutes gone with Selby 21 points to nil in front. Only 5 minutes later Selby increased their lead after taking a scrum against the head – the ball was spread wide for debutant Teihana Brown to score the try with Cruise kicking his 4th conversion. Four minutes later Moortown turned the Selby scrum but Selby replied in kind regaining their put-in, winning the ball and spreading it wide for speedy winger Stephen Clark to score wide out – there was no conversion this time. Selby then rang the changes with Robert Bourke replacing Martin Protheroe and Rihi Brown taking over from Matthew Wood. After 29 minutes Jacob Robinson was in under the posts for his hat-trick of tries after Selby had taken another scrum against the head – Cruise converted to give Selby an unassailable 40 points to nil advantage. Two minutes before the break some excellent backs play saw winger Charlton McCoy speed in at the corner for an unconverted try – Mark Tanner replaced Tom Bell just before half time arrived with Selby in front by 45 points to nil after a half in which Moortown had hardly made inroads into the Selby 22.

Moortown, now with the breeze at their backs, started the second half brightly, but the Selby defence repelled any threat from the Moortown backs and with Martin Protheroe re-joining the fray for the injured Robert Bourke and Matthew Wood also back on for Thomas Cobley, Selby increased their lead with a second try from winger Stephen Clark after the Selby forwards had turned over possession – Cruise kicked a difficult conversion from near the touchline to put Selby in front by 52 points to nil after 61 minutes. Only 2 minutes later with Selby turning defence into attack, centre Alex Arthur went over for an excellent unconverted try after a flowing move from the backs with the final pass being delivered by winger Lunt – Tom Bell now replaced skipper Duncan Hardy. The final score of the game came on 74 minutes after more excellent back play resulted in a try for Rihi Brown who touched down under the posts – Cruise converted to complete an emphatic Selby win by 64 points to nil in a game that, despite the score-line, showed glimpses of a decent Moortown side, especially in the second half.

Next Saturday, Selby entertain North Ribblesdale at Sandhill Lane (Kick Off 1500 hours) in their Yorkshire League Division 1 opener, and will hope to get off to a good start on their return to the Division.