SELBY RUFC 11 – 22 BRADFORD & BINGLEY RUFC
NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.

Report by Ray Adamson

Selby's young and inexperienced team put up a tremendous fight against Bradford and Bingley who were making their first ever League visit to Sandhill Lane following their relegation last season. The bonus point which Selby's efforts richly deserved was also snatched away with the last move of the match which saw The Bees cross for an unconverted try in the left hand corner.

Playing against the breeze and despite a massive weight disadvantage Selby took the game to their opponents from the kick off but were dealt a blow with Bradford's first real attack when, with just 5 minutes gone, space was created for their impressive centre Lachlan Moore to open his team's account with a well worked try wide out on the left flank. An injury to Tom Bell after 10 minutes saw the prop replaced by Club stalwart and ex captain Andy Pocklington. Undeterred, the Selby youngsters returned to the attack and within 2 minutes almost opened up the visitors' defence when skipper Duncan Hardy lead a charge down the right flank, exchanging passes with winger Ben Lunt before being dragged down just short of the line. The Bees were able to turn over possession from the ensuing ruck and cleared the immediate danger before returning to the attack themselves.

With 15 minutes gone Bradford increased their lead when, following a tap penalty on the Selby 5 metre line, the home defence were overstretched and centre Moore was able to run round under the posts to present kicker Gerhard Nortier with the simplest of conversions and give his side a 12 point advantage. Despite their obvious physical advantage the visitors were not having things all their own way at set pieces and when they conceded a penalty on their own 22 Iain Adamson reduced the deficit by 3 points with a straightforward kick at goal. For the majority of the rest of the half Selby battled at every breakdown and tackle, repeatedly frustrating the Bradford forwards who clearly expected an easier afternoon. Indeed it was Selby who were next to score and reduce the visitors' lead to just 4 points at the break. With winger Ross Peltier off the field having been yellow carded for a deliberate knock on Selby were able to take advantage of the extra man when Ben Lunt finished off an excellent backs' move with a try in the corner, much to the delight of Selby's considerable and vocal followers.

The jubilation of that score was, however, short lived as the visitors caught the Selby defence cold just 1 minute into the second period, a clean line-out take being shipped wide quickly where fly half Nortier was able to cross almost unopposed. His conversion was short of the mark but opened up a 9 point lead which remained, in spite of opportunities for both sides to kick further goals, until the 79th minute of the game when Selby's fly half Scott Hunt pulled back 3 points and narrowed the gap to just 6. With a bonus point looking likely and an outside chance of snatching an unlikely victory, Selby were dealt a cruel blow in the final minute of time added on and in somewhat controversial circumstances when a misdirected Selby pass landed in the hands of a retreating Bradford centre. Despite claims from Selby players that he had unsportingly and illegally called for the pass, play continued and substitute Nick Gore was able to cross in the corner.

Despite the bitter taste of defeat and the manner of the loss of a bonus point the Selby players can reflect on a performance full of commitment and endeavour which will hopefully set the foundation for further development as the season progresses. With greater composure on the ball which comes from playing regularly at this level and greater cohesion from training and practising together there is no reason why this result cannot be reversed in the away fixture just before the break for Christmas!!