1st XV
Matches
Sat 01 Apr 2023  ·  Regional 2 North East
Dronfield
47
10
Selby RUFC
1st XV
Dronfield RUFC 47 - 10 Selby RUFC

Dronfield RUFC 47 - 10 Selby RUFC

Stephen Ward5 Apr 2023 - 21:05
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Dronfield run away with it in the last quarter.

REGIONAL 2 NORTH EAST

DRONFIELD RUFC 47 – 10 Selby RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson

Selby’s first ever visit to Dronfield proved to be a forgettable experience as the home side took advantage of their physical superiority and local knowledge to run away with the game in the final quarter as Selby’s youngsters were eventually battered into submission by the relentless driving of the home forwards.

On a sticky, sloping pitch Selby kicked off downhill and, as expected, had territorial advantage for the opening phases of the game, but without ever really threatening the Dronfield line. After an even first 15 minutes a penalty against Selby allowed Dronfield to kick into the attacking 22. Having secured the ball at the line out, the home side forwards went through numerous phases and were only denied a score when knocking on just short of the line. However the pressure soon told as another set of pick and drives from the Dronfield forwards eventually created the space for the home side to cross close to the posts and establish a 7 point lead with 22 minutes played.

Selby were straight back onto the attack, reducing the deficit within a couple of minutes courtesy of an excellent team try. From a clean line out on half-way, Jamie Ibbetson crashed through the middle of the home defence, finding Skipper Ashley Parkinson in close support. When he was hauled down, Alex Webster was on hand to continue the move deep into the Dronfield 22 before being tackled just short of the line. Quick ruck ball and swift hands saw Dan Reid give the scoring pass to Harry Cruise at the left hand corner.

Both sides then had further opportunities to score, Dronfield going through the phases repeatedly until a penalty for holding on in the tackle allowed Selby to clear downfield. Selby too were within a whisker of taking the lead when a break from James Robinson created a chance for Archie Bennett who was held up over the line and Dronfield were able to clear from the goal line drop out.

A clever 50/22 by the Dronfield fly half as half time approached established the position from which the home side were able to extend their lead. Although Selby managed to win the line out they were again penalised at the breakdown and after another 5 metre line out, Dronfield again drove at the Selby line. Despite repeatedly repelling the Dronfield drives, the Selby defence eventually buckled after defending at least a dozen attempts by the Dronfield heavyweights who crashed over by the side of the posts, the easy conversion stretching the lead to 14-5

Undaunted, Selby hit back again straight away, forcing a penalty against the home side which Wright was able to kick to within 5 metres of the Dronfield line. A clean catch and powerful drive brushed the home forwards aside before Tom Scholefield was awarded the try some 5 metres in from touch and Selby went into the break just 4 points behind at 14-10.

Unfortunately for the visiting spectators, that was about as good as it got. Selby failed to deal with the kick off at the start of the second half, gifting the ball to the Dronfield forwards on the 22. Within a matter of seconds the ball was fed out to the right where the winger was able to run in unopposed. An excellent conversion stretched the home side’s advantage to 21-10.

As had been the case in the first half, both sides were able to create chances but failed to convert them. Selby won two penalties to get down into the Dronfield 22 but were then penalised for crossing in the line out, whilst Dronfield missed the chance of extending their lead when a penalty awarded for a deliberate knock on drifted wide of the posts.

After some 25 minutes of stalemate, Dronfield capitalised on a poor kick and chase out of the Selby 22 that left a gap in midfield which the home centre took full advantage of, crossing under the posts and adding the conversion to open up a 28-10 advantage.

With the game going away from them, Selby tried to open up at every opportunity but found little success in breaching a now-confident and solid home defence who were smart enough to pin Selby back in their own 22 whenever the opportunity arose. The home side benefitted from a dropped pass in the Selby 22 to register their fifth try, and a strong forward drive following turnover ball saw the home side back into the Selby 22 before a slick inside pass allowed the home centre to cross for try number 6. With a perfect kicking record the game was well out of sight at 42-10.

The final nail in the coffin was delivered shortly before the final whistle and following a promising position for the visitors. As Dronfield tried to run from their 22 a forward pass gave Selby put in at a scrum just 10 metres from the line. A weary Selby pack was driven backwards, Ibbetson tried to rescue the situation but was subsequently penalised for holding on and Dronfield cleared to half way. From the ensuing lineout the home side open-side flanker broke through several would be tacklers and when he was eventually brought down on the 22, the supporting forwards continued the move before the ball was shipped wide to the right where the winger concluded the scoring by crossing in the corner to see his side to a 47 points to 10 victory.

Match details

Match date

Sat 01 Apr 2023

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Regional 2 North East

League position

8
Dronfield
10
Selby
Team overview
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