NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2.

YARNBURY (HORSEFORTH) RFC 27 – 14 SELBY RUFC

PLAYED SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2012

Referee – Mr. Glen Cockcroft – Central Yorkshire Society

Without a League win at Yarnbury since 1 May 2002 Selby travelled to Horseforth on Saturday hoping to retain or increase their advantage at the top of Yorkshire League Division 2 but came away disappointed after their second League loss of the season by 27 points to 14. This loss largely resulted because of a below par performance in the last quarter of the game after pulling Yarnbury back to 14 points to 17 and then spurning a wonderful opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the match when the ball was knocked on with the line at their mercy.

Selby suffered a blow before kick off with number 8 Matthew Wood pulling out because of illness and with Martin Protheroe unavailable, skipper Duncan Hardy filling in at number 8 and Josh Greenfield starting at hooker with Ollie O’Brien coming on to the bench for his first involvement with the 1st XV this season.

Yarnbury kicked off with the advantage of the breeze and slight slope on a sodden ground after overnight rain and it didn’t take them long to take the lead with winger Stuart Wilson going over for a try in the 5th minute improved by former Selby fly half Carl Paterson. Four minutes later Selby fly half Josh Cruise was unlucky when his penalty attempt hit the post and crossbar and bounced out with the bounce of the ball going Yarnbury’s way with Selby seemingly likely to score. However Selby were soon level when, after 9 minutes, Duncan Hardy scored his fifth try of the season going in between the posts for Cruise to convert. A further Cruise penalty attempt 2 minutes later once again hit the post before Yarnbury began to dominate territorially. Intense pressure on the Selby 10 metre line after 26 minutes saw prop Tom Bell incur the wrath of the referee and spend 10 minutes in the bin with Yarnbury taking immediate advantage with the extra man and scoring a close range try from centre Jason Avison – Paterson once again converted to give Yarnbury a 14 points to 7 lead. A Carl Paterson penalty in added on time gave Yarnbury a 17 points to 7 half time advantage.

Selby, now playing with the advantage of the breeze and slope, started the second half in determined fashion, dominating territory and running the ball at every opportunity but a determined Yarnbury defence and handling errors by Selby prevented any further score until the 55th minute. The Yarnbury defence failed to gather and then fumbled a long kick into their territory with Dan Porter following up, picking up the loose ball and sprinting between the posts for his seventh try of the season – Cruise converted to put Selby back into the game at 17 points to 14 down. At this point it looked as if Selby could claw back the deficit and win the game but a golden opportunity to go in front for the first time in the match was spurned when a poor pass was knocked on with the line at their mercy. After that Selby seemed to lose their way and Yarnbury once again began to dominate and further increased their lead with number 8 Jimmy Cryan credited with a close range try after 75 minutes converted by Paterson. A further Paterson penalty in added on time gave Yarnbury a deserved victory by 27 points to 14.

Despite this defeat Selby stay top of Yorkshire 2 but with only a 1 point advantage over Doncaster Phoenix. There are no League fixtures in Yorkshire 2 this Saturday with no fixture currently planned for Selby, although the second XV take on Old Brodleians in a Merit Table fixture. With only 3 points separating the top 5 teams in Yorkshire 2 Selby’s League fixture at Sandhill Lane on Saturday 17 November against Doncaster Phoenix takes on massive proportions especially as Selby are unbeaten at home and Phoenix are unbeaten away. As much support as possible would be appreciated in a game which will be sponsored by Selby’s Main Sponsor, Doosan Power Systems. The match will be preceded by a Ladies only pre-match luncheon.