Selby RUFC 41 - 27 Heath RUFC

Report by Stephen Ward

On a beautiful early Spring afternoon in conditions perfect for Rugby, Selby
produced their best display of the season and gave themselves a chance of retaining their Yorkshire 1 status, running out bonus point winners by 41 points to 27. Despite Yarnbury picking up a couple of bonus points in their loss against Beverley, Selby go above them by virtue of a better point’s difference. North Ribblesdale who were well beaten at Bridlington remain one place above but are now just 1 point better off going into the final weekend of the season.

Heath could have taken the lead as early as the 3rd minute when fly half Ezra Hinchliffe's had chance of a kick at goal but his penalty was hooked wide of the left upright. Instead it was Selby who took the lead 4 minutes later, when, excellent inter-passing by forwards and backs resulted in a twelfth try of the season for prop forward Duncan Hardy, which full back Scott Hunt was unable to convert, however Selby were in front by 5 points to nil. After 15 minutes, Heath won a set scrum on the Selby 40 metre line and some superb lines of running by the Heath backs saw their winger Luke Saltonstall scythe through the middle of the Selby defence to score under the posts. Hinchliffe kicked the simple conversion for a 7 points to 5 lead to Heath.

Selby’s response was immediate and they stormed back through centre Alex Webster who was nearly over for a try down the right before the ball was re-cycled and moves quickly to the left where prop forward Ben Booth was able to put scrum half Danny Wilkinson over for the home side’s second try after just 18 minutes. Hunt kicked an excellent conversion from wide out on the left to put the hosts back in front by 12 points to 7. Selby continued to play excellent running rugby involving all members of the team and deservedly went further in front after 26 minutes with a superb solo effort by Alex Webster. Hunt again kicked the conversion to put Selby in front by 19 points to 7. Barely 9 minutes later excellent work by centres Andrew Kehoe and Alex Webster totally outsmarted the Heath defence, providing the platform for Selby’s fourth and bonus point try for fly half James Fox who dived in under the posts, Hunt’s successful conversion meaning that Selby held a 26 points to 7 advantage with 5 minutes to the break. A penalty to Heath on 40 minutes for offside reduced the arrears to 16 points at 26 -10, but Selby were determined to show they hadn’t finished just yet, going further in front in the third minute of added on time after more excellent work in the backs put flanker Ashley Parkinson in under the posts for his first try of the season. Hunt converted easily to give Selby a thoroughly deserved half time lead of 33 points to 10.

The second half started badly for Selby, when a penalty kick failed to find touch and indirectly led to Heath’s second try. The ball was run back at the home defence and when number 8 Josh Booth impeded at the break down he found himself yellow carded as well as penalised. Heath should have scored a try in the left corner but the ball was dropped in the act of touching down, but the referee brought play back for a further penalty to Heath on the Selby 5 metre line. Heath elected for the scrum, shunting Selby back over the line with number 8 Richard Brown claiming the try – Hinchliffe missed the conversion but Heath had pulled the deficit back to 15 points to 31. Despite being down to 14, Selby were soon back on the attack and with the referee playing advantage for a high tackle on the Heath 10 metre line, replacement winger Harry Cruise scrambled over the line for Selby 6th try, though Hunt was unable to add the conversion. Selby appeared to have an unassailable lead at 38 points to 15 and were restored to full strength after 56 minutes with Josh Booth back on after his yellow card but within 4 minutes skipper Duncan Hardy saw himself yellow carded. Heath took full advantage with Brown driving over for his second try from a 5 metre scrum. Hinchliffe added the conversion to again reduce the deficit to 16 points at 38-22 in Selby’s favour. Once again, despite being down to 14, Selby took the game to Heath forcing the visitors to concede a penalty 30 metres out. With Scott Hunt off the field it was left to replacement winger Harry Cruise to take the kick at goal and the youngster showed great composure to put Selby in front by 41 points to 22. A couple of minutes later second row forward Robert Oliver looked to have scored his first try of the season only for the referee to bring play back for a forward pass. Selby then started conceding a succession of penalties, eventually running out of cover down the right flank in the 3rd minute of added on time with Heath centre Eddie Cartwright touching down for his side’s bonus point try. Hinchliffe’s unsuccessful conversion brought the game to an end with Selby running out victorious by 41 points to 27.

As was the case last season, relegation issues will finally be decided on the last League Saturday of the season, when Selby face a tricky away fixture at Scarborough. North Ribblesdale host West Leeds, who will be looking to secure the Play Off berth whilst Yarnbury, the only other team in danger of relegation, travel to Keighley. With Selby the only team out of the three to have recorded a win this week, hopes will be high that they can do enough to ensure their Yorkshire 1 survival again.