Selby welcomed Bradford Salem to Sandhill Lane on Saturday as the season reached its halfway point. The hosts named arguably their strongest side of the campaign, with Charlie Cicero returning from injury at number eight. The strength in depth was reflected on the bench, occupied entirely by forwards—Ryan Lamb, Sean Campbell and Laurence Taylor. Ben Poskitt led the team out for his 50th appearance, while the Swans’ Nest was packed with long-time supporters and sponsors from Read School, Drax.

Selby suffered an early scare when Joe Scholefield took a heavy tackle, prompting a reshuffle as Antun Wilson moved into the backs and Taylor came on at flanker. Cicero then charged down a kick, and Selby earned a penalty under the posts. Opting for the scrum, they shifted the ball wide, and James Bramley powered through a gap to score, using two outside runners as decoys.

Bradford hit back immediately with a penalty after a Selby infringement, closing the gap to 5–3. Scholefield soon returned, a welcome sight for the home crowd.

Moments later, another charge-down from James Bramley forced a penalty inside the Bradford 22. Again Selby chose the scrum, and this time it was Charlie Bramley who cut back inside to score before converting his own try for a 12–3 lead after 15 minutes.

Salem responded with forward pressure. A maul was dragged down, earning Jack Todd a yellow card, and although Poskitt produced a superb tackle to deny number eight Baines, the visitors eventually forced their way over for an unconverted try on 20 minutes.
Soon after, Cicero—just beginning to influence the contest—pulled up injured and was replaced by Taylor. Selby then attacked the Leeds Road end, with Reid and Lamb making strong carries before a penalty under the posts. Scrum-half Bennett went quickly, and in a flash Charlie Bramley was over again, ignoring two unmarked teammates outside him. "Good job he scored" declared his dad from the sideline!. The conversion drifted wide, and Selby led 17–8 at half-time.

Campbell replaced Alex Dolat at the break, joining James Hunt in the second row, but it was Bradford who started brightest. A charged-down clearance added pressure, and Salem scored again from a line-out to close the gap.

Selby then earned two penalties around the 40-meter mark—one after a powerful Campbell carry and another via a turnover from man-of-the-match Hola Vea. Bramley took the points on both occasions, extending Selby’s lead to eight. That seemed to lift the home side. Taylor (sponsored by David Bramley) burst from the 22, steamrolling defenders before being hauled down short. Bradford somehow denied the supporting Vea, but their scrambling defence turned into a yellow card. Selby chose the scrum once again, and Wilson was driven over for a pushover try, with Bramley converting from in front.

With fading light there was still time for one more. A superb aerial take from Charlie Bramley off a Poskitt high ball set Selby moving. The forwards recycled well, Joey Reid carrying strongly, before the pack powered over—Wilson emerging with the ball for his second of the afternoon. The conversion missed, and Selby closed out an excellent 35–15 victory against a side who had beaten league-leaders Pocklington only a week earlier.

Next week brings a trip to Moortown.

Other Results

Second XV
The seconds travelled to Wetherby for a friendly and won 34–7, boosted by the welcome returns of Dan Reid (travelling) and Eddie Liddle (busy farming duties).

Fourth XV
The fourths lost 34–7 to familiar opponents and friends Maltby. In a moment that summed up community rugby at its best, Selby fielded what is believed to be their first ever father-and-son second-row pairing—60-year-old Andy Elcock alongside his son Dan. A youthful side, featuring several colts, saw Alistair Ellam named man of the match. His acceptance speech was described as “solid rather than spectacular.”