Selby welcomed Old Brodleians to Sandhill Lane on the final day of January, with persistent rain throughout the week putting the fixture in doubt. Thanks to the tireless work of Richard Nicholson and his predecessors, the pitch was presented in excellent condition. Remarkably, four of the five Regional North East 2 fixtures went ahead. With the second and third team games called off, those players added plenty of vocal support from the sidelines, while also thoroughly testing the sturdiness of the benches in front of the clubhouse.

The home line-up was familiar, though notable for fielding possibly the youngest back seven Selby have put out this season, averaging just 21 years of age (youngest 18, eldest 24). It was also the last appearance for Archie Bennett before he heads off on his travels to Australia and New Zealand.

Selby made their now customary fast start. A charge-down in the middle of the visitors’ half led to strong carries from Tunningley, Lamb and Dentith before Hola Vea stretched out to score. Charlie Bramley converted and Selby led 7–0 after just three minutes.

A lost Selby line-out inside their own 22 gave Brods an early opportunity, but it was Selby who struck next. Oli Parsonage read the play superbly to intercept, bursting 20 metres upfield before feeding Charlie Bramley, who coasted under the posts untouched. The conversion made it 14–0.

The third try followed on 20 minutes. Old Brodleians were stripped of possession and the ball was quickly shifted left. From nothing looking on, Joe Ramsay showed he was truly back. Sharp off the mark, he beat his opposite number, stepped two more defenders and finished with a familiar dive for the line. A moment of frustration from Brods flanker Ryan Harris earned him a yellow card, and Bramley’s conversion put Selby 21–0 ahead.

Coach Jay Robinson then deployed what was dubbed the “Swan Bomb”, introducing all three forward replacements at once. Brods weathered the immediate pressure and struck back from a well-drilled line-out drive to score, the conversion missed.

Selby responded almost immediately. Joey Reid, sponsored by the vast Adamson family, secured a turnover and carried strongly over the 22 before the ball was again worked towards the cricket pavilion. Ramsay repeated the trick of his first score, diving in at the corner for his second. The conversion struck the post, leaving the score at 26–5.

Old Brodleians refused to fold. Pressure at the line-out earned them a penalty try, with Reid yellow-carded on behalf of the forwards. Further pressure was repelled before Liam Hogan produced a timely turnover to bring the half to a close.

Early in the second half, a late tackle allowed Brods to kick to the corner and score again against Selby’s seven-man pack, narrowing the gap to 26–17.

Selby then regained control through smart game management. Keeping the ball alive, dominating the scrum and neutralising Brods’ line-out, they built pressure. Harrison Green made the decisive break, taking clean ball and feeding Ramsay — a familiar partnership from their mini and junior days — for a simple run-in from in front of the stand to complete a deserved hat-trick and earn Man of the Match.

A spell of penalties brought Brods back into the game, and despite a try-saving tackle from Joe Scholefield, the visitors crossed again to make it 31–24, setting up a nervy finish.

Selby steadied themselves. James Hunt disrupted the line-out, the scrum reasserted dominance, and Archie Bennett made a clean break to the delight of Rory Duggan and guests from Platform Supermarket in the Swans Nest — including Archie’s very vocal father Andy, watching his son’s final game before heading overseas. Pressure told, and the ball eventually reached Dan Reid on the right wing, who finished in trademark style. The conversion stretched the lead.

The closing stages brought both comedy and one final score. A Brodleians player was yellow-carded for a neck tackle on Parsonage, while Liam Hogan flirted with discipline before being replaced — smiling broadly as ever. From the resulting line-out, James Hunt took clean ball and released James Bramley, who ran through untouched to score under the posts. Charlie Bramley added the final conversion to seal a 43–24 victory.

A fitting home performance, built on youth, energy and ambition — and a memorable send-off for Archie Bennett before his adventure begins.

Looking ahead this weekend, the First XV have a rest day, while the Second XV host Goole at Sandhill Lane and the Third XV travel away as the season continues. The following week sees a big triple-header away at Scarborough, with the Ladies XV kicking off at 11.45am, followed by the First and Second XVs at 2.15pm.