Selby RUFC 0 - 67 Bradford Salem RFC

Report by Ray Adamson

If ever a game demonstrated the division that is beginning to appear in Yorkshire 1 then perhaps this fixture was it. Whilst Selby are committed to investing in their home grown players and improving their already outstanding facilities for the benefit of the members, there are Clubs seeking to promote their Rugby ambitions by enticing players to join them in the quest for success and recognition on the pitch. As a consequence Selby's latest match saw them on the end of their biggest ever League defeat and the game as a spectacle soon lost its appeal as supporters headed for the Clubhouse to watch the World Cup Semi Final between New Zealand and South Africa.

As has been the occasion in every game this season, Selby started with great energy and were a match for a very good Salem side for most of the first quarter. Indeed, they had the chance to take the lead on a couple of occasions when awarded penalties for a trip after 12 minutes and a deliberate knock on after 15. Unfortunately fly half Scott Hunt was unable to convert either and the Salem indiscretions went unpunished. After 20 minutes acting skipper Duncan Hardy made an excellent break through the visitor's defence but his offload was agonisingly adjudged to be forward and the momentum was lost.

Once Salem opened their account after 21 minutes courtesy of an unconverted try for centre Neil Wall it appeared that the tide was turning very much in the visitors' favour. A second try scored by winger Sam Savage after 26 minutes from an accurate cross field kick was expertly converted by Andy Robinson (though to many on the sideline the winger appeared to be some distance in front of the kicker) and from that point the home side struggled to contain the superior pace, power and fitness of the Salem players. Selby managed a sustained spell of possession and territory in the next 10 minutes but the Salem defence always appeared comfortable in dealing with the threat, turning over the ball or forcing errors as the home side threw everything at their opponents. Having weathered the onslaught, Salem were able to extend their lead to 15 points just before the half time break when Selby were penalised for a high tackle and Robinson converted a straightforward kick at goal.

Any thoughts Selby had of forcing their way back into the contest after the break were quickly dispelled as Salem ran in 4 tries in the opening 15 minutes, three of which were converted to open up a 41 point margin for the visitors. Nothing that Selby tried seemed to bring any reward and as their confidence dropped and Salem's grew the game became little more than a training run out for a very accomplished and organised team who will undoubtedly force their way into contention for promotion to North East Division one. After a 10 minute respite Salem returned to their free scoring ways adding a further 4 tries in the final 20 minutes as an exhausted, deflated and ultimately outclassed Selby side were unable to stem the onslaught. Full back Danny Belcher scored one of the eight second half tries and converted 6 for a personal tally of seventeen points having taken over kicking duties from Robinson and winger Wall added a second to the one he scored in the first half. Outstanding flanker Connor Wood added a brace of his own and was instrumental in creating a further3 tries for his team mates as the visitors from Bradford ran away with the game.

As the League season develops it is becoming increasingly obvious that Selby will be one of 5 or 6 clubs engaged almost in a League of their own within Yorkshire 1 and the battle for survival will no doubt be every bit as entertaining and interesting as the one-sided match that was witnessed by probably Selby's largest crowd of the season so far.