Scarborough RUFC 21 v 0 Selby RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson

Selby's first League game of the season saw them visiting Scarborough where the 2014-15 season finished and where Selby fell to their biggest defeat of the campaign.

Despite having lost a number of key players over the summer, the young Selby side which included 3 debutants in James Fox, Robert Oliver and Andrew McLoughlin gave a promising display and deserved greater reward for their efforts than the score-line would suggest. Indeed, having kicked off into the stiff breeze, Selby's forwards dominated both territory and possession for the first 25 minutes without being able to breach a stubborn Scarborough defence. Having weathered the early onslaught, the home side forced their way into the game and, with half time approaching, opened the scoring through their massive prop forward Wesley Langkilde who crashed over from 5 metres after Selby had conceded a penalty for a scrum infringement. Fly half Tom Harrison added the conversion and was able to stretch the lead to 10 points courtesy of a successful penalty during injury time at the end of the first period.

With the second half only 2 minutes old, Harrison was given a further penalty opportunity when Selby's forwards were harshly penalised for standing up at the scrum and his well struck kick extended Scarborough's advantage to 13 points. Selby then had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit but fly half Iain Adamson, unaccustomed to the role of place kicker, was marginally off line with both shots at goal. Scarborough soon made Selby pay for their lost chances when, after 61 minutes, winger Harry Domett crossed for an excellent try which Harrison was unable to convert. With an 18 point deficit Selby threw everything they had into attack and were soon camped on the Scarborough 5 metre line where they executed the pick and drive with considerable skill but were still unable to find a way over the try line for the score which would have given them a deserved reward. On the stroke of full time Scarborough were awarded another penalty when Selby prop Rob Bourke was yellow carded and Harrison's third successful penalty gave his side a somewhat flattering 21 point to nil victory.

Selby will reflect on this performance with a degree of satisfaction and will take positives from the success of the line-out and the fight and spirit shown by all members of the match day squad. With a stiff test next up against Bradford and Bingley, who will visit Sandhill Lane for the first time ever in League Rugby, they will also want to make sure to turn possession, territory and pressure into points.