Northern Division – Yorkshire League Division 1

Selby RUFC 31 – 21 Heath RUFC

With only 6 League games remaining and Selby still languishing in the relegation zone this was, perhaps, one of the most important games of a disappointing season for Selby. In front of a substantial crowd, Selby gave a much improved display after their last League fixture at Bradford Salem – a 34 points to 5 reversal, and ran out deserved winners by 31 points to 21 in a thrilling encounter where the lead changed hands on no less than 5 occasions.

With Brendan Lanaghan and James Blaymire unavailable Selby welcomed back Matthew Wood and young Robert Oliver and kicked off to the Leeds Road end. After a promising start, taking the first scrum against the head and comfortably winning their own line out, careless play gifted possession to Heath who capitalised with a close range try from their hooker Alex McFadden easily converted by their ever reliable goal kicked Ezra Hinchliffe for a 7 points to nil lead after only 5 minutes. Four minutes later Selby were nearly in at the corner, full back Ben Lunt tackled into touch only inches short of the try-line – however, after stealing the Heath line-out the ball was spread to the left and after 2 further phases back row forward Charlie Cicero plunged over his first League try of the season – fly half Scott Hunt’s conversion attempt hit the upright with Selby back in the game at 5 points to 7 in arrears. After 13 minutes Lunt had to leave the field injured and was replaced by winger James Robinson with Alex Hare switching to full back – this combination was to prove pivotal later in the match. Selby took the lead after 21 minutes, with Heath, who had been regularly penalised by the referee, conceding another penalty on the Selby 40 metre line – an excellent kick to the Heath 10 metre touch by Hunt gave Selby the throw at the line-out with second row forward Matthew Wood catching and setting up the drive with prop forward Duncan Hardy going over for the try converted by Hunt and a 12 points to 7 advantage to the hosts. However, only 3 minutes later, the lead was lost after the Heath forwards took a scrum against the head on the Selby 22 metre line, spreading the ball wide for speedy winger Callum Harriott-Brown to score in the corner – Hinchliffe kicked an impressive conversion to put Heath back in front by 14 points to 12. Ben Booth replaced his brother Josh at this point with the only further chance of a score coming in the 43rd minute of added on time with a Heath penalty by Hinchliffe from 50 metres which fell well short. Selby trailed by 14 points to 12 at the break.

Miller McCoy replaced Oliver at the start of the second half with Selby starting brightly and re-taking the lead after only 4 minutes of play after the Heath defence was breached by prop forward Greg Nagle with smart inter-passing between Nagle and Hunt putting winger Robinson over unopposed for the try – no conversion from Hunt but Selby were back in front by 17 points to 14. Heath now started to dominate territory and possession with Selby having to do some desperate defending but the pressure eventually told after 58 minutes when a clearance kick by the Selby defence on their own try line was charged down with replacement Matthew Baxendale credited with the try which was easily converted by Hinchliffe for a 21 points to 19 advantage to the visitors. Some wonderful passing and inter-play from defence between Alex Hare and James Robinson took play deep into Heath territory after 67 minutes and with Oliver back on for the injured McCoy, Selby continued to threaten the Heath try line and after 70 minutes Selby were back in front after Nagle, once again, broke through the Heath defence putting Robinson over for his second try and Selby’s bonus point try – with Hunt’s successful conversion, Selby were now back in front by 24 points to 21 and it was anybody’s game. The match clinching score came only 3 minutes later after an excellent break down the left by full back Alex Hare, who after making 40 metres kicked through the Heath defence for Robinson to win the race for the touch-down and his hat-trick of tries. Hunt converted to give Selby a 10 point lead at 31 points to 21, meaning Heath would have to score twice to win the game and they certainly did their best pressuring the Selby defence to such an extent that scrum half Andrew McLoughlin was yellow carded on 78 minutes but Selby held out. A long range penalty attempt deep into injury time by Hinchliffe, if successful, would have given Heath a losing bonus point but the attempt failed with Selby victorious by 31 points to 21 and a lifeline to Yorkshire 1 survival especially with West Park Leeds, Old Crossleyans and Yarnbury all losing their League fixtures.

Next week Selby play their catch-up game against Old Brodleians, a team they have failed to win against since 13 April 2002. Selby’s other remaining home fixtures are against Bridlington and Scarborough with away fixtures at West Park Leeds and Yarnbury. Their fate now, seems to be in their own hands.