Selby welcomed Bridlington for the final league game of the season. The Swans needing one point to win the league, Bridlington looking to avoid relegation by bettering Old Crossleyan’s result to stay in regional two North East.

Playing towards Leeds Road against a strong wind, the tone for the afternoon was set at the first scrum as a powerful drive saw Bridlington scramble the ball out, only for a knock-on to see Selby awarded the put-in at another scrum. Quick possession saw Ben Lodge break in to the Brid 22 and be hauled down two metres short with Liam Hogan following up to collect and flop over with minimal fuss after five minutes. Just three minutes later Selby were on the score sheet again as Bridlington knocked on near the centre spot and as the ball came in to the backs James Bramley made the incisive break before feeding fellow centre Alex Webster on the 22 who swallow dived in under the posts leaving Henry Wright an easy conversion.

Bridlington replied on fifteen minutes as long kicks saw them camp in the Selby half till repeated forward drives saw them play advantage of a penalty and score a try. Ash Parkinson receiving a yellow card seeing Selby reduced to fourteen.

Selby retained possession on the restart and backs and forwards combined a number of phases keeping possession preventing the Seasiders using the increasing wind. Eventually the Selby backs worked some space on the left for Matt Lodge to scorch past the large crowd in the stand to score from inside his own half. 17-5 to Selby.

Ball retention continued and although most play was in the Selby half the players were confident and set piece ball from another scrum saw Matt Lodge grubber kick through into the Bridlington 22 where Jamie Ibbetson plucked the ball from high before feeding Hogan for his second try near the posts. A bonus point securing the title, Henry Wright converted. 24-5 after 24 minutes.

As half time neared centres Webster and Bramley combined well to put Matt Lodge in for his second, again the move starting in the Selby half. Brid then saw prop Faoagali receive a yellow card for a high tackle. However the half ended with Bridlington fullback Welch intercepting and running in from half way to scrum an unconverted try,29-10 as the teams changed ends.

Bridlington then showed some resistance knowing two further tries to gain a bonus point in their relegation battle could potentially be useful, a stalemate ensued. This was broken on 55 minutes as Selby reasserted control as forwards and backs combined to put Jamie Ibbetson over. Straight from the restart Ben Lodge took a great catch before going on a barnstorming run, offloading to Archie Bennett who put in a kick and chase that Bob Robinson touched down. Henry Wright adding the extras for 42-10.

From the kick off the ferocity of the wind was reinforced as Henry Wright copied Brid’s fly half in the first half by kicking the ball dead from his own 22 before James Bramley restored order as he put brother Charlie in for another try, again converted. Injuries then forced uncontested scrums but it made little difference as full back Ben Poskitt finished a length of the pitch move, again converted by Henry Wright.

In the final five minutes, further tries by James Bramley and Ash Parkinson stretched Selby’s final score to 69-10. An emphatic score but not undeserved by a young homegrown side that has grown in confidence as the season progressed.

Congratulations all round from top to bottom of the Club. No personal mentions as it is a team and Club effort all can be proud of winning promotion and the league title. The following three weeks see the team taking part in the Papa John’s Cup starting Saturday with the visit of Old Brodleians 3pm kick off.