Keighley RUFC 31 v 17 Selby RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson

A strong second half performance under testing conditions saw Selby come within one decision of claiming 2 bonus points in their defeat at Keighley when Duncan Hardy was adjudged to have been held up over the line when all of his team mates and a considerable number of spectators believed him to have scored.

On a heavy, sand covered pitch Keighley had the better of the opening quarter but found themselves frustrated by a tremendous defensive effort by the entire Selby squad. However the home side were able to put the result beyond doubt in the second period of the first half as Selby found themselves unable to master the basics when in possession, conceding 3 tries in quick succession to allow Keighley to open up a 19 point lead. A missed kick to touch from a penalty after 24 minutes allowed the home three quarters to carve open the Selby defence for a try by Fly Half Alex Brown whose score under the sticks left him with an easy conversion. The second try came just 5 minutes later and from a position inside the Keighley 22. Possession was lost and the home side made a quick break out of defence. A kick deep to the Selby right wing bounced kindly for the Keighley winger and despite a tremendous rearguard action, Full Back Alfie Seeley was able to run in at the corner for an unconverted try to open the lead to 12 points. Despite enjoying success with their pick and drive tactics, Selby again failed to make a clean catch at a line out on their 10 metre line after 37 minutes and when a penalty was conceded at the break down, a quick tap caught the defence flat footed with Seeley crossing for his second try in ten minutes. Brown's conversion left Selby with a big ask at 19 points to nil down and things were to get worse in the second minute of time added on when Second Row Forward Smith Brown crossed for his side's Bonus Point try and the successful conversion stretched the gap to 26 points.

Signs of a comeback were immediate as Selby drove straight back at the Keighley defence and smart handling by Backs and Forwards alike created the space for Scott Hunt to open the visitors' account in the 6th minute of injury time, the Full Back converting his own score to give the score-line a more respectable look at 26-7 going into the break. Lifted by their success Selby began the second half strongly and pressure in midfield forced an error amongst the Keighley three quarters, the fly hack taking play deep into the home side's 22. Unfortunately the attack came to nothing and Keighley stretched their lead against the run of play when Centre Joe Copperwaite added an unconverted try on 50 minutes despite a brave tackle on half way by Alex Webster who thought he had tackled his opposite number into touch.

Most of the rest of the game belonged to the visitors who threw everything they had at the home defence, Flanker Rob Fox just failing to score after 60 minutes before slick handling created the space for Winger Scott Adamson to score his first try in first fifteen colours. From the re-start Duncan Hardy, who had come on as a replacement in the Back Row, drove a hole in the Keighley defence and when livewire Scrum Half Danny Wilkinson appeared on his shoulder, the offload gave the youngster the chance to outpace the defence in his sprint for the line. Hunt saw his conversion attempt rebound off the cross bar but with over 10 minutes remaining there was a belief that Selby could indeed rescue something from what appeared a lost cause. Time and again Selby stretched the home defence with Alex Webster and Simon Billingsley both going close before Hardy made a tremendous drive at the Keighley line, with his team mates jubilant as he appeared to score a fourth try for the visitors. However the referee adjudged the ball to have been held up and when a penalty was conceded shortly afterwards Keighley were able to clear their lines, winning the resulting line out before kicking the ball back into touch to claim the victory.

With a week away from League action, Selby will be hoping that injuries accumulated over recent weeks will have time to recover before the crucial, season defining fixture at Sandhill Lane on 25th March. A bonus point win against North Ribblesdale will again give Selby the belief that they can avoid the drop from Yorkshire 1, whilst a defeat will make survival a much more difficult proposition with away games at Brodleians and Scarborough either side of the home fixture against Heath. Everyone connected with the Club will remember the nail biting finale to last season's campaign and will be keeping fingers crossed that things do not go down to the wire again this year.