Another brave and committed performance against one of the League’s form sides saw Selby return from their long trip north with 2 thoroughly deserved points and a feeling that, had the penalty count been more even, another stunning victory might have been claimed.

The game set off at a frantic pace with Alnwick managing to reclaim the kick off and show the power of their forwards as they went through numerous phases driving towards the Selby 22, A chip ahead by the home scrum half gave Henry Wright the chance to clear but under so much pressure that the line out was conceded on the 22 metre line. A clean catch and powerful surge, which was to be the theme for the afternoon, took play to within 5 metres and created the chance for Alnwick’s former Newcastle Falcon number 8 to break off the side of the maul and crash over wide on the right. Another theme of the afternoon was the number of missed kicks at goal as the home side’s Scrum half failed to convert, but with barely 3 minutes gone the host team had their first points on the board.

Selby’s response was immediate and devastating as Charlie Bramley easily outjumped all of the Alnwick forwards at the re-start to claim possession before breaking through and carrying into the home 22 before offloading to Joe Scholefield who ran in almost unopposed for a try which quickly silenced the home faithful. Wright was unable to hit the target but with 5 minutes gone it was all square at 5-all.

What followed in the next few minutes certainly gave everybody watching food for thought. A knock on at the kick off handed the advantage to Alnwick but ferocious defence by Selby forced the Alnwick 9 to kick possession away. Seeing the chance to counter attack, the Selby backs handled smartly to give Adam Infante just enough space to put in a deft grubber kick. When the ball evaded the Alnwick Full Back, Charlie Bramley was first to react, gathering the rolling ball and sprinting in from 30 metres. A second failed conversion meant that Selby held the lead at 10-5.

After the excitement of the opening 10 minutes, the game settled into a bit of a stalemate with strong defence on both sides preventing any clear cut chances as play ebbed and flowed between the 22s and both sides were penalised at the breakdown. With 22 minutes gone Alnwick were eventually able to reduce the deficit by 3 points when Selby were penalised for not releasing a tackled player and the home scrum half converted from in front of the posts just outside the 22.

Within a couple of minutes the home side were back in front. Charlie Bramley again outjumped the Alnwick forwards at the kick off but a penalty awarded for not releasing gave the home side the chance to kick to touch in the Selby half. The visitors may well have been caught out expecting another strong forward drive but a change of tactics saw the home side Fly Half ghost through the Selby defence for a fine individual try which also resulted in Alnwick’s solitary successful conversion and a 15 points to 10 lead.

Shortly after the try, Selby’s task was made even more difficult when Sean Campbell was yellow carded for an offence inside the 22. A truly herculean effort by the remaining 7 forwards meant that Alnwick were restricted to just a further penalty kick at goal which sailed wide of the left upright. Selby even managed to create a penalty chance of their own but Wright was unable to convert from distance, however Selby were by far the happier team at half time, having kept the deficit at 5 points despite being a player down.

Selby made 2 changes at the break with Archie Bennett coming on at Scrum half for Danny Wilkinson and Ryan Lamb allowing Joey Reid a bit of a break. The visitors showed their intent from the start of the second half, attacking from the kick off and gaining a penalty for a high tackle which Wright kicked to within 8 metres of the Alnwick line. A clean catch and repeated drives took play into midfield and a quick change of direction by Bennett found Jamie Ibbetson with enough time and space to crash over wide on the left, the missed conversion bringing the game back all square at 15-all.

Alnwick’s response to this setback was swift as a penalty awarded on the 10 metre line was kicked deep inside the Selby 22. A clean catch and powerful drive brought an almost inevitable score for the home forwards and the lead was quickly re-established at 20 points to 15.

In keeping with most of the afternoon, Selby struck back almost immediately and in unusual circumstances. Alnwick were awarded another penalty on the 10 metre line but the Fly Half misjudged his kick to touch and kicked the ball dead, conceding a scrum to Selby instead. A solid scrum and a perfectly executed switch move in midfield saw James Bramley scythe through the heart of the home defence before drawing the last defender and giving Adam Infante a clear run to the line. A change of kicker also saw a change of fortune as Ollie Parsonage stepped up to successfully convert and put Selby back in front at 22-20.

As the game moved into the final quarter the home side again seized the initiative courtesy of yet another penalty kicked to touch in the Selby 22, a clean catch and powerful drive proving too much for Selby’s relatively lightweight forwards. Alnwick too tried a change of kicker but without success, meaning they now held the advantage at 25 points to 22.

After a couple of strong forward drives by both sides, the game developed into a bit of a kick fest with neither side gaining the upper hand until an injury to the Alnwick 13 forced the referee to stop play, restarting the game with a scrum to Alnwick on the Selby 10 metre line. With a strong sense of deja vu, Selby were penalised at the breakdown, Alnwick kicked to the corner, the forwards executed a clean catch and drive and the try was awarded but the conversion missed.

At 30 points to 22 Selby were in danger of missing out on a second bonus point but the “never say die” attitude so often evident this season saw them throw everything at Alnwick in the closing minutes. A charged down clearance gave Selby a scrum in the Alnwick 22. The ball was moved quickly left giving Infante the slightest sniff of a chance to score but the home defence were up to the task, tackling him into touch just 5 metres from the line. Selby’s next attempt to get to within 7 points came when Alnwick were penalised 30 metres from their line, presenting Parsonage with a chance to reduce the deficit to 5 points, but his kick drifted agonisingly wide and it seemed that the opportunity had been missed.

A game that had almost everything still produced another twist in the tale as the final whistle beckoned. A desperate clearance from the Alnwick 22 landed at the feet of Adam Infante on the 10 metre line. Controlling the ball proved difficult but one final attack was launched by Selby’s youngsters with Joe Scholefield and Charlie Bramley showing a level of fitness and turn of speed that was simply too much for the exhausted defenders and Bramley delighted in outpacing the cover to cross for his second try of the match. The missed conversion was of little consequence as the referee blew for full time with the home side clinging on for a 30 points to 27 victory.