Selby RUFC 15 - 23 Beverley RUFC

Report by Ian Marlow

Selby returned to league rugby after last week’s bye in the Yorkshire Shield with a much improved but, ultimately, pointless performance against a very decent Beverley side. With a strong breeze blowing directly down the pitch for the entirety of the match it was always going to be a match of differing tactics for each half - and Selby really came undone in the first as they failed to capitalise on their advantage giving themselves too much to do despite a courageous second half effort.

It started perfectly for the Swans though as Beverley were immediately pinned back in their own half and after a period of continuous forward pressure Duncan Hardy proved his usual unstoppable self from a yard out to crash over. An excellent conversion from Scott Hunt added to the feelings of confidence for Selby’s first win of the season but, alas, as so often has been the case an immediate and simple inability to retain possession from the kick off gifted the ball back to Beverley, who then showed exactly how to keep hold of it through numerous phases before scoring at the corner. Further excellent play keeping possession against the breeze from Beverley’s young but wise side brought them a further try and lead before Hunt levelled matters with a well taken penalty.

Selby’s propensity to make unforced errors combined with some canny defensive work from Beverley in disrupting, without penalty, a number of powerful Selby forward drives led to a frustrating end to the half – and to add to Selby’s woes another session of Beverley keep ball led to another try conceded and 10-17 halftime score line as Selby switched off at a five yard penalty allowing a simple stroll in try,

Against the breeze in the second half Selby had it all to do and try mightily hard they did. However, with the damage already having been done the effort was always likely to fall short, particularly as Duboulay, the Beverley fly-half, showed how to play the conditions by sticking the ball back in Selby’s corner at every available opportunity. Things did look promising though as following some excellent Selby possession they closed the scores as Hardy reprised his baby rhino impersonation to batter his way over the try-line, but this time from two yards out.

With Beverley now doing their own impersonation of Selby’s usual trick of getting on the wrong side of the referee, Selby started to get a lot more control of the match in terms of possession and territory as the penalties and yellow cards mounted up against the East Riding outfit. However, a lack of cutting edge and Beverley’s committed defending repulsed all of Selby’s efforts for long enough until any loss of possession gave the Duboulay boot the chance to send Selby back to square one, and having to start all over again in running the ball out of deep defence. Unfortunately, all of Selby’s second half efforts ultimately counted for naught as Beverley kicked two further penalties to give a final 15-23 score line to somewhat harshly take away any chance of a losing bonus point.

Selby now have two crucial games upcoming against fellow league strugglers, firstly away to North Ribblesdale and then at home to Wheatley Hills. Both games are eminently winnable if Selby can perform as well as they have for large parts of many games this season - but they must also cut down on the number of unforced errors they commit and show a wiser head in game management to maximise their chances of a rise up the league table.