Referee – Mr. Chris Lunn – East Yorkshire Society

With Castleford’s Willowbridge Lane pitch unfit, this fixture was switched to Pinfold Lane at Methley. Selby were hot favourites to get back to winning ways and so it proved with the Selby forwards providing the platform for the execution of some scintillating running rugby, scoring 11 tries in a 69 points to nil rout of bottom Club Castleford. Despite this heavy defeat credit to Castleford who turn up every week even though they have lost all their fixtures to date, and mostly heavily, but who never gave up all afternoon playing in the true spirit of Rugby Union.

Selby were straight into the attack with young Charlton McCoy opening the scoring as early as the 3rd minute with an excellent try converted by Josh Cruise. Only 2 minutes later Selby increased their lead when a kick out of defence by Castleford was gathered by Cruise who dummied and fed his backs for Jacob Robinson to score an unconverted try – 12 points to nil to Selby after only 5 minutes. After 17 minutes, winger Ben Lunt almost scored the 3rd try after he was held up short but the ball was re-cycled for full back Dan Porter to go over for an unconverted try. Selby had to repel some Castleford pressure after 20 minutes and then went further ahead after 23 minutes when Selby’s forwards took a ball against the head with Porter eventually feeding Matthew Wood to score his third try in 2 weeks with Cruise adding the extras. Iain Adamson replaced Alex Webster after 26 minutes and the sizable Selby support didn’t have to wait long for their team to increase their advantage when Cruise spotted a gap in the Castleford defence and sprinted through for the try which he improved himself. With Jacob Robinson scoring his second try, converted by Cruise after 37 minutes, Selby went into the break with a handsome 38 points to nil advantage.

Selby replaced Jacob Robinson and Mark Tanner with Ollie O’Brien and Josh Greenfield at the start of the second half and went further ahead after 45 minutes with a breathtaking backs move which resulted in a try for, probably the best finisher in the Club, Ben Lunt, with Cruise failing to convert. At this point Castleford had their best chance in the match to put points on the board when a kick through the Selby defence trickled over the dead ball line with a Castleford player desperately attempting but failing to get the touch down before the ball went dead. Six minutes later the Selby forwards executed a brilliant rolling maul but failed to reach the try line - however the ball was then spread wide for Porter to score his 10th try of the season and Cruise adding the conversion. Selby were now 50 points to nil to the good and rang the changes with Mark Tanner coming back on for Tom Bell and Alex Webster replacing Dan Porter. Within 2 minutes Webster made his presence felt scoring Selby’s 9th try of the match and Cruise converting. More stunning running rugby on 66 minutes resulted in a second unconverted try for Ben Lunt with Sam Weller and Iain Adamson creating the opportunity. Selby’s final score, converted by Cruise, came after 73 minutes with Charlton McCoy scoring another excellent try. More opportunities came Selby’s way but over eagerness prevented any further score and Selby can be well satisfied with a job well done.

This win takes Selby above West Leeds, who lost at West Park Leeds, into 3rd place with a very healthy point’s difference of + 236. With no scheduled fixture on Saturday 1 December, Selby will face a sterner test on Saturday 8 December when 5th place Bradford Salem are the visitors to Sandhill Lane in a match that will be sponsored by the Muffitts.