Selby RUFC 24 – 20 Keighley RUFC

Report by Ian Marlow

Selby edged a tight, tense and critical match for a nail biting win right at the final whistle to not only win their first game in ten goes but to rise up the table and out of the Yorkshire One relegation zone.

With players returning from travels afar, and some from the less exotic destination of the disciplinary committee, Selby put out a much more competitive team than of late, and it showed with a much more robust display from the off. What didn’t change, unfortunately, was their in-built propensity to give any silly, needless penalties which completely undermined their own efforts as Keighley, playing with the strong breeze, simply waited for a penalty and their chance to kick deep into Selby territory - from where a cute backs move opened up the space for Keighley to go in under the sticks.

Selby did give notice of their own improved attacking capabilities as Eddie Brown broke free to send the brick outhouse (or other similar description) centre combination of Liam Hogan and Scott Birch away up the field. However, the inevitable penalty brought Selby right back to square one and, infuriatingly for their supporters, further and often needless indiscretions and errors gifted Keighley another two penalties for a 0-13 lead, as easy as you like, shortly before half time.

Just as it looked as if Selby were going to gift the game away cheaply through their lack of rugby intelligence, and inability to build any sustained attacking play, they struck twice in quick succession to bring themselves right back into the match. Firstly, and at last, Selby gained and held onto possession in the Keighley half for Harry Cruise to send Birch powering over out wide for his debut first team try. Better was to follow as Duncan Hardy and Danny Wilkinson combined to send the ever-supporting Charlie Cicero in right between the posts for what should have been a 12-13 half time score line - except that Cruise bizarrely (and incomprehensibly to all except himself) chose to rashly drop-kick the conversion, and missed horribly, meaning it was only 10-13.

Now playing with the elements, Selby were in the driving seat and when Cicero claimed his second try after a Keighley clearance kick was charged down on their line, hopes of a victory were considerable buoyed as they took a 17-13 lead – Cruise making some amends with a fine (and proper) conversion from out wide. Another great chance to take the game away from Keighley went begging as, after another bruising charge from Hogan, the final pass to score under the posts went agonisingly to ground - and then, as so often happens, Keighley compounded Selby’s misfortune by going straight back up field to score a fine try of their own to retake the lead 17-20.

Keighley now (hopefully) educated Selby just how to play into a breeze as they retained possession after possession and, as the clock ticked down and Selby’s play became frustrated and ragged, it looked like the Swans had blown their chance. However, a pin point penalty kick from Cruise into the corner gave them a final opportunity and there then followed five minutes of high drama as Selby battered the Keighley line from line out and repeated scrums, only to be met with fierce Keighley defence. Several times Selby forced their way over only for Mr Referee to deem the ball “held up” on every occasion - before Selby finally got a dominant straight drive on at the scrum and, after Keighley illegally collapsed it on their line, the penalty try was awarded and the match won.

Selby’s first team now have a week off but effort, entertainment, and beer are still available at Sandhill Lane on Saturday, free of charge (except for the beer), courtesy of Selby’s splendid lower teams.