Beverley RUFC 15 – 7 Selby RUFC

Report by Ian Marlow

Fourth-placed Selby Swans travelled to third-placed Beverley Beavers on a damp and dismal day and produced a performance fitting of the conditions as they went down 15-7, gleaning not even a losing bonus-point from the day’s proceedings.

Selby’s afternoon started badly with scrum-half Danny Wilkinson pulling up injured in the warm up, with winger Harry Cruise being press ganged into action behind the scum and the Swans a substitute down for the match. Playing with a slight breeze Selby kicked off short, Beverley gathered, and then kept the ball for five minutes, recycling well through the phases, until playmaker Phil Duboulay made the break to feed his support to score by the posts for 7-0. Selby by contrast were finding it difficult to hold onto the ball with errors aplenty, and much of what they did get was kicked away to the Beavers – who then made a much better fist of holding onto the ball to control possession and territory.

Selby’s scrummage was, as ever this season, going well and their defensive efforts, with Tom Edwards magnificent all match, were excellent, but the rest of their play was just a bit lacklustre and Beverley were brighter and sharper in all other aspects. Selby’s chances took another knock when main man and chief try-scorer Joe Ramsay had to leave the game early with concussion (much better to side step the big men Joe!) with the unlikely sight of the portly Sam Broughton appearing on the wing. Sense prevailed though and he was invited into the forwards with Jay Robinson moving the other way into the backs – from where he gave another impeccable performance.

Duboulay managed to escape the Selby defences again but a great try-saving tackle from Harrison Green cut him down before Selby finally had their own period of possession - but twice in quick succession bad hands prevented them from scoring or building any sustained pressure on the Beverley line. And then in first half injury time Mr Referee was not happy with Selby prop Andrew Tunningley, yet again, demolishing his opposite number in the scrum (err, just too strong for him Sir?) and from the resultant penalty Beverley kicked for the corner and then, again, just kept recycling until the gap appeared and they were over for 12-0 at half time.

The second half was a repeat of the first with Beverley clearly the better side and with Selby repelling them with more excellent defence. Twice Duboulay was confident enough of the win to turn down kickable penalties to go for the corner and more tries, and twice Selby hung on and held them up before with fifteen minutes to go Selby changed the nature of the match with a cracking team try from deep. The Cruise brothers combined to break into the Beverley half and when the ball was moved rapidly wide down the back line, the passes finally stuck for winger Jack Bodman to scorch home for a superb try and 12-7.

With Selby now sniffing an unlikely win, they upped their game (why so late?) and twice came close with breaks from James Robinson and Bodman again – but again, frustratingly, possession was lost cheaply and Beverley managed to regroup and clear their line. Then a high tackle from Broughton brought the Swans the double whammy of a yellow card and a kickable penalty – from which Duboulay took no chances this time, kicking it for a final two-score lead of 15-7.

Selby now resume league fixtures on 4 January at home against table-toppers Heath - but the annual exiles boxing day jamboree will give those who haven’t managed to drink enough on Christmas Day, another go a day later!