Old Crossleyans 20 – Selby 19

Selby’s First XV travelled to Halifax to face long-standing rivals Old Crossleyans in a rearranged fixture, originally frozen off two weeks earlier. Confidence was high following the emphatic home victory over Pocklington, and while a brisk cross-field wind greeted both sides, the usual Pennine drizzle and mud were mercifully absent.

Selby’s forwards lined up largely unchanged, with the welcome returns of Max Wotton and Jack Hebden on the bench. The backs were reshuffled, featuring a new half-back partnership of Danny Wilkinson and Oli Parsonage.

The match began scrappily and, as the game would continue, Selby were guilty of a number of knock-ons. The visitors were punished early as the scrum came under pressure, conceding penalties, though Crossleyans failed to capitalise on the second attempt at goal. Selby then suffered a setback when Sam Broughton was forced off with a leg injury.

An overthrow by the hosts gave Selby momentum, and Joe Scholefield’s grubber kick from halfway was gathered before Dan Reid, as ever in the right place, went over from 22 metres. The conversion from wide out into the wind fell short, but Selby led 5–0 after ten minutes.

Crossleyans responded strongly. A try-saving tackle by Charlie Bramley briefly delayed the inevitable before the hosts recycled possession to score and level the match. Max Wotton was introduced and immediately made his presence felt, swinging the scrum momentum Selby’s way, though errors continued to disrupt fluency.

On the stroke of half-time, the hosts struck again. A stripped ball on halfway led to a break that was halted by a penalty under the posts. In a surprise move, Crossleyans tapped and went, the gamble paying off with a converted try to lead 12–5 at the break.

The second half opened with a powerful Selby scrum, but despite being forced backwards, Crossleyans retained possession and winger Johnson raced clear from halfway to score. The conversion was missed, extending the lead to 17–5.

Dan Reid’s kick, chase and recovery brought Selby back into the contest, winning territory and penalties, though a clear turning point was missed when a blatant knock-on by the home scrum-half went unpunished. Instead of a yellow card and likely points, play continued.

Selby’s scrum dominance continued and when Crossleyans lost flanker Drennan to a yellow card, the visitors capitalised. From a line-out ten yards out, Jamie Dentith took control and was driven over by his pack, emerging last with the ball. Charlie Bramley added an excellent conversion to close the gap.

Pressure mounted as Selby finally earned a penalty, Parsonage pinning the hosts deep into the corner despite the wind. Joey Reid carried hard up the middle before quick ball allowed Harry Tunningley, deservedly named man of the match, to smash towards the line. Held just short, Hola Vea nipped around the edge to score, and Bramley coolly slotted the conversion from near the touchline to put Selby ahead.

With ten minutes remaining, Selby looked capable of closing the game out, though discipline remained an issue. Crossleyans thought they had regained the lead through Johnson, but the score was chalked off after Selby skipper Alex Webster highlighted an incorrectly taken line-out. However, sustained pressure followed, and with the final kick of the match Crossleyans converted a penalty near the posts to snatch a 20–19 victory.

Crossleyans’ celebrations were heightened by news of neighbours Old Brodleians losing at Pocklington. Selby now turn their attention to welcoming Brodleians to Sandhill Lane next week, still unbeaten at home, with their solitary away win coming at Pontefract — a telling reflection of the season so far.

Elsewhere, Selby’s Second XV were left without a fixture as Barton and District were unable to raise a side. The Third XV travelled to Thirsk and were narrowly beaten 14–7 in another closely fought encounter.