Selby played host to West Park Leeds RUFC this weekend in a scintillating game of two half’s. With winter heading our way underlined by a sprinkle of snow on the roof tops this might be the last of the best weather for the months to come.

It was a bright and sunny afternoon for rugby but very chilly with a cutting wind blowing in from the North West, warm up gear remained on right up until the last minute before kick off, and the two teams were straight into battle.

It was West Park Leeds (WPL) who took the early advantage with its strong pack pushing Selby back into its own half where most of the first half of the game was played. WPL looked determined, threatening and motivated and had clearly come with intent on inflicting more damage to what might have been considered a wounded Selby from the previous week’s defeat, but this wasn’t to be.

Selby’s defence held strong under the barrage of crash ball attacks with Bell, Pocklington, Brown and Triffitt all in the mix. Selby continued to play Rugby in its own 22 to the bemusement of its supporters and calls for clear your lines from spectators, and whilst Selby had good possession during this time they failed to exploit space down field.

It wasn’t until 32 mins when WPL broke the dead lock with the first score with a well taken try by Richard Storey and this is how the first half finished with WPL 5 – 0 up.

After a stern half time talk from Selby Coach Richard Nicholson the second half was much more to write home about and much more like the team the Selby faithful come to watch every week.

What a difference a stern talk makes, transformed and unleashed the Sandhill Laners laid siege to the oppositions half with fast ball good hands and a much more up tempo game than had been seen in the previous half.

Selby’s first try came at 41 mins from a well worked ball followed by some fancy footwork from Selby’s skipper Hardy, followed 6 mins later by another well worked try which saw the ball move full width right to left and right again for Greenfield to score on the wing. On 55 mins it was Hardy again over the white wash for his second of the day which was this time duly converted by Cruise.

Selby were now on fire and with WPL becoming depleted the whole team set about gaining that much needed bonus point, Webster, Lunt & Porter all stepped up ducking & weaving looking to break defence at every opportunity whilst Balymire, Wood & Protheroe all chose the direct route.

Selby’s 4th try came at 61 mins from another well constructed try that placed Protheroe in a position to batter his way through the defence and under the post. Fresh legs arrived in the form of Lanaghan & Saunders to help keep the pressure up and on the 75th minute Cruise scored Selby’s 5th try.

With score now at Selby 31 – 5 WPL the game felt won and a final try from weaving Webster converted by Cruise underlined that feeling. However WPL were not going to lie down and die and a final push following a prolonged and concerted effort in front of Selby post saw WPL cap off their score with a second try.

The game finished with the same sense of spirit it started and Selby would like to thank the WPL players and supporters and referee Mr Gavin Pender – Central Yorkshire Society for making this a day enjoyed by all.