Yorkshire Shield Second Round

West Leeds RUFC 18 – 17 Selby RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson.

In appalling conditions against a side pushing for promotion from Yorkshire League 2, a Selby side ravaged by injury and unavailability came within one successful kick of progressing to the third round of this year's Yorkshire Shield. Unfortunately the penalty attempt by Josh Cruise that would have sealed the victory in the 79th minute drifted agonisingly wide and West Leeds celebrated a hard fought and ultimately satisfying win.

Any ideas Selby had of an easy afternoon against lower-ranked opponents were dispelled within 2 minutes of the kick off when West Leeds took a 7 points lead courtesy of a try by home winger Josh Cassell and an excellent conversion in the most difficult of conditions by stand off Dale Breakwell.

Although Selby soon reduced the deficit by three points when the home defence was caught offside and Cruise struck his first penalty of the afternoon, West Leeds regained the initiative after 10 minutes, Breakwell adding another successful kick awarded against Selby for the same offence.

Prop forward Robert Bourke, who produced another impressive performance and lead the Selby offensive effort, gained reward for his continued improvement after 19 minutes when crashing over for his first try since cementing his place in the starting line up. A penalty kick to the 5 metre line set up the position from which the Selby pack were able to drive towards the West Leeds line. Although the defence were able to halt the initial surge, there was no stopping Bourke once the ball was successfully re-cycled by the Selby forwards. Cruise was unable to convert but the deficit had been reduced to just one score as conditions deteriorated and turned the game into a battle of attrition.

West Leeds were next to score in the 31st minute when full back Jack Marshall crossed for an unconverted try to restore his team's 7 point advantage; an advantage they were to hold until the 52nd minute when Cruise kicked the first of three second-half penalties as West Leeds struggled to contain a now dominant Selby side. A further penalty after 61 minutes reduced the gap to a single point and as Breakwell missed with a couple of attempts at goal it seemed that the tide might have turned in Selby's favour, especially when Cruise struck the penalty which gave Selby the lead for the first time at 17-15 with barely 8 minutes of the match remaining.

Selby's relief was short-lived as they were penalised just 3 minutes after taking the lead and Breakwell held his nerve to convert what turned out to be the match-winning penalty. A frantic last 5 minutes saw Selby battering away at the home defence with Number 8 Dom Bosher continuing to play a prominent role. Firstly a position was established from which Cruise was given space to attempt a drop goal and finally a penalty was awarded against the home side for offside which presented Cruise with the chance to snatch the victory. Unfortunately for him and much to the disappointment of the travelling faithful, the kick missed the target and West Leeds ensured that they were able to cling on to the slenderest of leads and so ensure their name was the one to go into the hat for the next round draw.

Overall, a much changed Selby side performed admirably in very difficult circumstances and on the balance of play would have deserved the victory, but great credit has to be given to the West Leeds team whose defence was solid all afternoon and withstood almost everything that Selby were able to throw at them to earn their place in the third round of this season's Yorkshire Shield.