Selby RUFC 33 v 31 Scarborough RUFC

In a 26 match, roller coaster season the final kick of the final game saw the season reach its dramatic conclusion, Scott Hunt's successful penalty snatching the bonus point victory that rendered any other results inconsequential and ensured that Selby will take their place in Yorkshire 1 for the 2016-17 season. The noise generated by Selby's faithful following was a mix of joy and relief and the reaction of the Selby players showed just how much they value the loyal support that they have enjoyed throughout a tense and difficult season. The game itself was an exciting, open end of season contest in which the lead changed hands on no fewer than 6 occasions to provide the large crowd with plenty of entertainment and the complete spectrum of emotions.

Selby kicked off with the advantage of a stiff breeze and took the lead within 4 minutes when Scarborough were penalised for an offside offence and Scott Hunt converted the first of his five successful kicks at goal. Shortly afterwards winger Ashton Dallimore almost extended the lead but was dragged into touch just metres short of the line as Selby continued their positive start to the game. However it was Scarborough who were next to score when, after 16 minutes, Selby were penalised for not rolling away at the tackle and skipper Tom Ratcliffe made no mistake with the kick. Within a minute Selby had regained their advantage when Hunt struck his second penalty, awarded for handling in the ruck. And so the pattern of the game was set with both sides intent on playing open Rugby and the advantage swinging one way then the other as play quickly switched from end to end. No sooner had Scarborough drawn level again courtesy of a second penalty than Selby re-established their advantage courtesy of a try for Selby's stand out player prop forward Duncan Hardy who crashed over for his 10th try of the season. A deep kick from Hunt saw the Scarborough full back fumble the ball and when the Selby tacklers swamped him in his 22 he was penalised for not releasing the ball and the choice to kick for the corner was decisive. A clean catch at the line out on the 5 metre line set the platform for Selby to drive the visiting forwards back over their own try line with Hardy eventually emerging with the ball and the credit for the score. Hunt was unable to convert but Selby had seized the initiative, at least for the next 5 minutes, as that was all it took for Scarborough to equalise. A scrum awarded in favour of the visitors 15 metres out was won cleanly and moved wide quickly where skipper Ratcliffe was on hand to cross for the equalising score. His conversion attempt rebounded off the upright leaving the scores tied at 11 points each, which is how it remained until the half time break despite Selby having the better of the play and just not quite being able to capitalise on their clear advantage.

With a one man advantage courtesy of a yellow card shown to Selby second row Stephen Clark, Scarborough started the second half the brighter and should really have capitalised on their superior numbers but somehow contrived to squander a clear opportunity just 4 minutes after the re-start. However, they did take the lead after 47 minutes when second row forward Jack Ireland crossed for an unconverted try to give his side the lead for the first time. Clark made immediate amends for his yellow card when pouncing on a loose ball just moments after returning to the field and plunging over for a try by the side of the posts after 52 minutes, presenting Hunt with the easiest of conversions and the chance to once again give his side the lead at 18 points to 16. Barely had the crowd settled before the visitors wrestled back the initiative with Selby penalised for holding on in the tackle and Ratcliffe's successful kick gave his side the slenderest of advantages. A poor drop out after 59 minutes cost the home side dear as Scarborough created an opening wide out on the left for fly half Tom Chadwick who stretched the advantage to 6 points, Ratcliffe's conversion drifting wide of the mark.

With no let up in pace Selby took just 3 minutes to drag themselves back into the contest when great work by flanker Charles Grey presented the scoring opportunity to Millar McCoy who crashed over between the posts, Hunt's conversion taking the score to 25-24 in Selby's favour. Things got even better for the home side after 65 minutes when a strong break down the left flank saw Hardy release Ashton Dallimore on halfway. The young winger ran powerfully deep into the Scarborough 22 but looked certain to be tackled just 10 metres short of the line. However his strength and winger's instinct saw him recover from the attempted tackle to cross for an excellent individual try which claimed the 4 try bonus point for his side. Hunt's conversion attempt slipped agonisingly wide of the left hand upright meaning the Selby advantage was 6 points and that the visitors could still take the game with a converted try of their own. Disaster then struck when, after 67 minutes, the Scarborough captain Tom Ratcliffe latched onto a miss-directed pass in Selby's midfield to run in under the posts, unopposed from 40 metres, his own conversion re-establishing a 1 point advantage for the visitors and gaining his team a bonus point into the bargain.

Play continued to ebb and flow and switch from end to end with Selby desperate to find the score that would secure their survival in Yorkshire 1, but as the game approached its conclusion it looked as though they may have to settle for 2 losing bonus points and rely on the result in the Halifax derby game going in their favour. With normal time having elapsed Selby forced their way into the Scarborough 22 with a scrum just metres from the visitors' line. Having tried to re-set the scrum on numerous occasions the referee finally lost patience with the Scarborough forwards and blew for a penalty in Selby's favour. With so much resting on the final kick of the season young fly half Scott Hunt held his nerve to convert the penalty which gave his side the victory by 33 points to 31, a win which ensured their survival and presented retiring Coach Richard Nicholson with the perfect leaving gift.