Heath RUFC 25 – 7 Selby RUFC

Selby returned to Halifax on Saturday to take on an ever improving Heath outfit and despite losing their 9th League match of the season, came away with their reputations intact after a determined and improved display gave their few supporters who braved a wet and miserable afternoon great optimism for the rest of the season.

Selby’s new signing, Greg Nagle, made his debut at prop with Nick Firth starting his first League game at full back and Ben Lunt switching to centre. The early exchanges were fairly even with Selby given the chance to take the lead in the first minute after Heath were caught offside but the optimistic penalty chance from fly half Scott Hunt fell well short. The first set scrum of the match to Heath on the Selby 10 metre line in the 9th minute was robustly contested by the Selby 8 but Heath still managed to retain possession with late inclusion Alistair Gordon going over for the try – centre Ezra Hinchliffe failed with the difficult conversion. With Heath dominating the line out and most of the territory, Selby were forced onto the defensive and went further behind after 22 minutes after knocking on in the line giving Heath the scrum on the Selby 5 metre line - number 8, Ian Downsborough went over for the try which Hinchliffe, once again, failed to improve but Heath were now 10 points to nil in front. Heath were nearly in again after 31 minutes but were held up over the line underneath the posts. From the resultant scrum and after numerous phases of pick and go from the Heath forwards the ball was spread first to the left and then to the right before flanker Josh White found a gap to touch down under the posts after 33 minutes and give Hinchliffe a simple conversion for a 17 points to nil advantage – the game then petered out somewhat with no further scoring to the half time break.

With the second half only 2 minutes old Heath went further in front when Selby were penalised for a scrum offence in front of the posts 30 metres out – Hinchliffe made no mistake to give Heath a 20 points to nil advantage. With conditions rapidly deteriorating and the ball resembling a bar of soap the standard of rugby and handling skills from both sides was remarkably good. With play end to end the Heath number 8 Ian Downsborough was yellow carded in the 54th minute but Selby failed to benefit with Heath down to 14 men but they were finding some momentum in the final quarter. However, they suffered a further set back after 65 minutes with a try out of nothing after a cross field kick was hacked on by Heath’s substitute winger Callum Harriet-Brown to the try line – Harriet-Brown won the race to the line and was awarded the try although the touch down looked to be dubious to say the least. Selby continued to battle and scored a deserved consolation try in added on time after a series of pick and goes from the Heath 15 metre line resulted in a try from debutant prop Greg Nagle – Scott Hunt’s excellent conversion brought the game to an end with Heath victorious by 25 points to 7.

Next Saturday, Selby host bottom placed West Park Leeds at Sandhill lane in what must be judged as a must win game if they are to climb away from the relegation places.