Heath RUFC 23 - 19 Selby RUFC

Heath RUFC 23 – 19 Selby RUFC

Report by Ian Marlow (posted by Stephen Ward)

Selby came mightily close to pulling off an early season upset with a spirited performance in a tense and fiercely contested clash away at early promotion favourites Heath – finally having to settle for a losing bonus point, although they may be kicking themselves for not going all the way to securing the victory.

Heath have a gargantuan pack, who also happen to be reasonably athletic and competent with it (which is not always the case with big packs!), so there are no surprises with the way that they play – playing for territory, then using their big boys to batter away in the tight, and loose, until they bludgeon their way across the line. However, Selby’s forwards gave as good as they got all match and indeed, with their experienced and doughty front row of Andrew Tunningley, Duncan Hardy and Miller McCoy, ably supported by substitute Rob Bourke, getting the better of their opponents by showing that size isn’t everything (although none of them are strangers to a fish supper!), the Swans scrummage provided ample good ball throughout the match and proved a constant disruption to Heath’s supply.

However, Selby’s propensity to undo their good work with unforced errors throughout the match kept coming back to bite them, and started early with Liam Hogan getting himself binned after only three minutes. Further errors and penalties gave Heath position to finally force their way over and when their left winger finished off some excellent handling to score in the corner it was 10-0 down, with the only consolation being an uncharacteristically poor kicking display from their normally immaculate kicker.

With Selby coming into the match more and more, prompted by the excellent running and distribution of Jarrod Dixon at scum half, the introduction of Bourke after thirty minutes paid immediate dividends as he burst through from a lineout to draw the winger and feed the supporting Charlie Cicero for an excellent try to close the score to 10-7. The rest of the half was all Selby, and Heath suddenly looked lethargic and decidedly second best as the Swans laid siege to their line. Twice easily kickable penalties were turned down for 5 yard scrums, and twice the ball was deemed held up over the line by Mr Referee - before right on half time an excellent cross-field move saw debutant scamp Joe Ramsey, who had a fine game throughout, make the break and feed winger Jack Bodman for a lead-taking try at 10-12.

Alas though, straight from the restart, instead of kicking on and keeping the intensity up and the pressure on, Selby undid themselves with more errors and needless infringements to allow Heath the simplest of penalties to retake the lead 13-12. And when Heath crossed again after fifty minutes, following some poor defence in midfield (together with a cute piece of obstruction on the refs blind side), the lead increased to 18-12 - but again, the missed conversion kept Selby to only a score down. With another Selby debutant, Harrison Green, in the thick of it with an energetic and physical display from the subs bench (belying his tender years!), Selby fought their way back up field, where after prolonged battle on the Heath line, Hogan had had enough and simply crunched his way through two attempted tackles for a seven pointer and 18-19 lead.

Back came Heath though as their forwards found another notch to turn it up to, and after securing a line out near the Selby line they sent their massive centre straight up the middle and over the line to retake the lead 23-19 with ten minutes to go - and that’s how it stayed as both teams slugged it out in defence for the rest of the half. Selby did have a couple of half chances to maybe snatch the win at the death but lacked a little bit of composure as they kicked good (and hard won!) possession away with speculative kicks – and that may have been a little harsh on Heath who probably shaded the match over the eighty minutes.

So, all in all, a fantastic team effort from Selby that has at least earned them a losing bonus point. This coming Saturday, the Swans are at home to Bradford Salem (KO 3pm) and if both teams provide half as much entertainment for supporters, then it will be well worth a watch!