Northern Division Yorkshire League Division 2.

Ripon RUFC 16 – 36 Selby RUFC

On Saturday Selby RUFC 1st XV made the trip to Ripon to play their 3rd game of the season which turned out to be another successful day, but no push over. With the sun shining and little wind, game conditions were perfect.

The home side applied the early pressure and dominated the early stages with vigorous forwards play that earned them an early 3 point lead. However Selby’s strong defence kept the host away from crossing the white wash right up until the last minute of the game.

Ripon's early advantage was soon lost when Cruise levelled the points and this is more or less as it stood for most of the first half with no side giving quarter. Another penalty apiece had the scores still level after 26 minutes. The breakdown was fiercely contested and Selby’s Protheroe, Blaymire and Wood were causing real problems for the host with counter rucking, pick n goes and strong ball carries.

Probing runs from Robinson & Webster supported by Lunt, Clark and Knowles continued to stretch Ripon’s back line which ultimately created the opportunity for Selby to get its first try, this came from a Daniels break to within 2 yards of the line and support from skipper Hardy helped the ball cross the white wash. Cruise duly converted with Selby ahead at the break by 13 points to 6 but with no side really having the upper hand.

At the start of the second half it was Ripon first out of the blocks but it was Selby’s forwards lead by Pocklington & Hardy supported by Triffitt & Brown that repelled this short lived onslaught.
The second half also brought a change of tactics for Selby and a change of fortune. A series of well executed kicks by Cruise & good line outs created a platform for Selby to move up a gear. Knowles was composed and worked well with Lunt and Clark to launch numerous counter attacks, and it was following one such attack that saw Daniels pick n go and sprint 45m to score.

Big hits from Greenfied, Blaymire & Webster and nuesence Brown held any Ripon ambition of getting back into the game at bay. As usual Triffitt worked hard in the tight and made significant contribution in attack.
More points came as a result of penalties but it was a turn-over in Selby’s 22 that gave Selby its 3rd Try when Lunt was released to sprint 80 yards to score.

Try of the day came from a well worked counter attack deep in Selby’s own half when Webster (Man of the Match) ran the ball wide up field, passed to Cruise who got an off load to Daniels then back to Webster and finally to Greenfield to finish off under the sticks.
Final score of the day went to Ripon in the dying minutes who forced their way over out wide. Final score Ripon RUFC 16 - 36 Selby RUFC.
Tries by Daniels, Greenfield, Lunt & Hardy, Points kicked; Cruise - 4 Penalties & 2 Conversions.

Playing; Pocklington, Hardy, Bell, Triffitt, Brown, Wood, Blaymire, Protheroe, Daniels, Cruise, Robinson, Webster, Clark, Lunt & Knowles, Substitutes; Randell, Geenfield & Porter.