Selby RUFC 32 v 45 Yarnbury RFC

Report by Ray Adamson

Despite some excellent attacking play and managing to score 5 tries, thus gaining a bonus point for the second consecutive match, the mood after the match was one of disappointment as Selby lost their way in the final quarter of the match, conceding 17 points without reply and succumbing to a 32-45 defeat to Yarnbury.

Selby made an absolute dream start as Yarnbury failed to deal with the kick off and the home side quickly regained possession and within 60 breathtaking seconds Number 8 Sam Broughton crashed over for the opening score by the posts, giving Josh Cruise an easy conversion and the Sandhill Lane outfit a gifted 7 point lead. Although Yarnbury had the chance to narrow the margin after 7 minutes, Danny Pound was unable to hit the target and it was Selby who stretched their lead just 5 minutes later. A scrum won against the head on the Selby 22 was moved wide quickly to Alex Hare who showed real class in standing up his opposite number and leaving him clutching at thin air. Hare's offload to Winger Iain Adamson continued the momentum down the Selby left and excellent support by Hare and fellow Centre Will Jefferson saw the latter put into space to cross for a memorable score. Unfortunately Cruise was unable to add the conversion but a healthy lead had already been built. Yarnbury were able to reduce the gap by 6 points courtesy of 2 penalties by Pound in the 16th and 27th minutes (when Selby were again reduced to 14 men following Scrum Half Andy McLoughlin's yellow card for an infringement at the ruck), but after 34 minutes Hare again showed excellent footwork in the Yarnbury 22 when latching onto a pass from McLoughlin shortly after his return to the field and scoring an excellent try without any of the Yarnbury defence laying a hand on him. Cruise again failed with the conversion and as half time beckoned Yarnbury scored their first try when Fly Half Pound was the most alert player from either side at a breakdown just short of the Selby line, picking up and spotting a gap around the fringe of the ruck to score as easy a try as he is ever likely to. His failed conversion meant that the Selby lead was reduced to 6 points at 17-11 when the referee signalled the half time break.

The second half started with a real bang as Sam Broughton claimed the kick off and charged his way straight through the heart of the Yarnbury defence before getting his pass away to the ever threatening Alex Hare. A run, a chip and a one-sided chase saw Hare give his side the perfect start to the second period as he re-claimed the ball to canter over for his second try of the afternoon and despite another failed conversion the home side's lead was back out to 11 points. From that point in the match things turned against Selby as Yarnbury firstly began to take control and then took the lead, scoring two tries in the space of 5 minutes, one of which Pound was able to convert to leave the score at 22-23. The first try by Centre Connor Moreton was a scrappy affair which resulted from both sides having difficulty controlling the bouncing ball and the second a classic catch and drive from the 5 metre line credited to Second Row Forward Ian Maycock.

The lead then swapped hands 4 times in the space of 15 minutes with Cruise regaining the lead for Selby with a penalty after 53 minutes and then Maycock scoring his second try of the game following another catch and drive after 56 minutes to put Yarnbury back into the lead. A typical Hare break after 60 minutes gave Winger George Stoker the space to chip and chase and Stoker's pace saw him dive in for his try just before the dead ball line. Cruise hit an excellent conversion from wide out on the right to make it 32-28 in Selby's favour but the joy was short lived as a poor defensive clearance failed to make touch and some ineffective tackling allowed the visitors to compound the error when Winger Alex Brown crossed for a try which Pound successfully converted for a 35-32 lead for the visitors. The final quarter of the match saw Yarnbury well in the ascendency and it came as no real surprise when they were able to extend their advantage through their other Winger Jack Brown who again took advantage of some sloppy defensive work for Yarnbury's sixth try of the afternoon which was again converted before Pound really rubbed salt into Selby's wounds by landing a clever drop goal in the final minute of normal time. As if that wasn't bad enough and with the game won and lost Selby still had to suffer seeing another of their players yellow carded when Second Row Forward Stephen Clark was penalised for unnecessary and unwelcome comments directed at the referee in the time added on for stoppages at the end of the match.

With a break from League action this week, Selby will be looking forward to having the chance to put right the things that failed so badly, when they entertain Ripon in the second round of the Yorkshire Shield. Ripon are currently well placed in Yorkshire 2 and come to Sandhill Lane courtesy of a first round victory over Selby's conquerors last week, Yarnbury, so there shouldn't be any thoughts of an easy ride for the Swans if they are to book their place in the next round.