SELBY 44 V BRADFORD SALEM 16

(THURSDAY 22 APRIL 2010) YORKSHIRE SHIELD QUARTER FINAL (UNDER FLOODLIGHTS)

Selby produced a stunning display of runnng rugby to demolish a strong Bradford Salem outfit and to claim the enticing prospect of a semi-final tie against Sheffield or West Leeds at Sandhill Lane, probably on Wednesday evening the 5th of May.
Led in inspirational style by skipper Rob Taylor, this mixture of youth & experience is hitting form right at the back end of a largely disappointing season, but the manner of this win bodes well for future years.
All six of the Swan’s tries were scored from broken play with forwards & backs combining for some superb rugby, with wingman Sam Weller claiming three, opposite wing Alex Arthur one, and substitute winger martin Protheroe another. Flanker Jon Crane was the only forward on the scoreboard and Chris Quinn converted four & landed two penalties.
Off half Quinn was the Master of Ceremonies and his conducting of his young charges in the threequarters was a feature of the game, combined with the craft & canniness of centre Shaun Austerfield who displayed the fact that a loss of pace can be balanced by the quality of the distribution.
It is the awareness of this pair that is setting the exciting young runners, Alex Arthur, Alex Webster & Ben Lunt free to strike in style.
There was a tremendous defensive effort needed too, as Salem did not come to roll over, and put the home side under pressure at various stages of the game, and their huge pack looked as though they would dominate the game, but were totally dominated by the Selby eight in both set and loose.
The season therefore could possibly end in style with the whiff of a Shield Final in place, and it would be wonderful to see another full house at Sandhill Lane shouting the lads on towards that final, with the semi date being confirmed on the website as soon as it is known.

SELBY LINE-UP:

15 Full Back Lunt B
14 Wing Weller S
13 Centre Webster A
12 Centre Austerfield S
11 Wing Arthur A
10 Stand Off Quinn C
9 Scrum Half Dovey R
1 Prop Pocklington A
2 Hooker Randell P
3 Prop Gabel P
4 Lock Toye M
5 Lock Wood M
6 Flanker Nicholson J
7 Flanker Crane J
8 No 8 Taylor R (Captain)

Substitutes

Tanner M (For Gabel P – 51 Minutes)
Cicero J (For Toye M – 63 Minutes)
Blaymire J (For Crane J – 62 Minutes)
Protheroe M (For Lunt B – 76 Minutes)

SELBY RUFC MAN OF THE MATCH – ROB TAYLOR.

Selby v Bradford Salem Yorkshire Shield Quarter Final Minute-by-Minute SW 22.04.10.