Pontefract RUFC 5 – 10 Selby RUFC

Report by Ian Marlow (Posted by Stephen Ward)

For the second match in succession Selby manged to fight off their own disciplinary demons to slog to a tight and dour victory over local rivals at a dank and dismal Pontefract.
It is a measure of how far Selby’s play has improved this season that any negatives at all could be attached to any victory away at Pontefract, but this match dispelled any such notion as Selby, by far the more competent team on the pitch, came perilously close to throwing it all away with as undisciplined a performance as seen in a very long time - well last week actually!

With Pontefract’s main pitch waterlogged, play decamped around the corner and up to the top field where it was perfectly playable, if a bit soggy. Pontefract started well with mucho macho endeavour, but the Swans are no mugs either in the physicality stakes these days and some thumping Pontefract runs were being met with thumping Selby tackles, with Jay Robinson and Sam Broughton to the fore. A Liam Hogan break then opened up Pontefract’s defensive frailty out wide, but with the try-line open the simplest of catches was put down and the chance went begging.

Pontefract stuck at their simple game plan of taking it up the middle short and hard, and their scrummage was initially very strong providing plenty of ball, but they looked bereft of any other ideas out wider and Selby were not being particularly troubled at keeping them out. In reply Selby were trying to play a more expansive game but kept dropping the ball – which wasn’t particularly troubling to Pontefract either! A scorching break by Joe Ramsay from full back, skipping over the midfield mud, lit up the gloom and created another great chance – but unfortunately Joe’s hands weren’t as clever as his feet and the simple try-scoring pass sailed into touch rather than the winger’s hands and the chance was squandered

Finally, after Selby’s scrummage started to get on top and Selby started to gain some decent field position, Skipper Josh Cruise slotted a fine long-range penalty for 0-3, before sliding a second similar effort inches wide. Selby’s stretched their lead to 0-10 after thirty minutes as they stretched the ball wide (without dropping it) to Sam Broughton who punched his way through the Pontefract line and handed on to Ramsay who raced in at the corner, well converted by Cruise.

With Selby now in a seemingly healthy position their indiscipline started to let them down as, with Pontefract going nowhere fast, a couple of slack penalties for straying offside bought them a simple penalty to close the gap – only they missed it! More forward domination gave Selby their own penalty chance right in front of the sticks and the chance to extend the half-time lead to 0-13 - but the Swans went, unsuccessfully, for the try instead; leaving some on the touchline to hope that, in a tight game, that decision wouldn’t come back to bite them (which it very nearly did!).

The second half was a dreadful affair with Selby giving away innumerable penalties for various daft and unforced indiscretions, meaning they barely managed to get out of their own half, never mind threaten the Pontefract line again. Pontefract continued to have very little idea of what to do with the vast amount of ball they were getting, but they never let up in their efforts, and kept themselves in the game by dint of Selby’s own inadequacies. Finally, with Selby down to thirteen men for the second week running (after 2 yellow cards) Pontefract couldn’t help but score as they moved the ball wide and Selby simply ran out of defenders; so it was 5-10 and Pontefract right back in the game. Pontefract continued to hammer away at the Selby line as the Swans continued to infringe at every opportunity but, in the only good thing to emerge from the match, Selby’s tackling in defence was magnificent, both close in and wider out, and it ultimately won them the day as Pontefract were unable to breach it, despite having a couple of five yard lineouts right at the death to snatch it.

Selby 1st’s now have a week off before resuming at home against Bridlington on 7th December, kick off 14:15 – however much entertainment will be provided by Selby Seconds at home this Saturday against Yarnbury 2s.