NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2.
SELBY RUFC 46 – 7 BRADFORD SALEM RFC

Referee – Mr. Richard Hughes – Warwickshire Exchange

In front of a substantial crowd at Sandhill Lane third placed Selby took on fifth placed Bradford Salem in conditions ideal for Rugby. After a mediocre first half, Selby went into the break 10 points to 7 to the good despite missing 3 penalties and 2 conversions. The second half was an altogether different affair with Selby turning on the style, running the Salem defence ragged and scoring a further 6 tries, 3 of which were converted to run out emphatic winners by 46 points to 7.

Selby were once again up against a bigger and heavier pack, seeing little of the ball in the first 5 minutes of the first half but had the opportunity to take the lead after 6 minutes when Salem were penalised for holding on but the chance was missed by Cruise who went on to have a rare off day with the boot. It was Salem who went on to take the lead in the 11th minute after winning their scrum on their own 22 – Selby, hampered by an injury to centre Sam Weller, failed to provide defensive cover wide out with the Salem backs running the ball the length of the field for scrum half Danny Thomas to claim the touch-down – Centre Jonny Robinson kicked an excellent conversion to give Salem an early 7 points to nil lead. Selby were soon on the scoreboard after skipper and number 8 Duncan Hardy picked up from the scrum to feed his backs with centre Iain Adamson putting Cruise over for an unconverted try after 15 minutes. With a Selby forward yellow carded after 21 minutes one would have expected Salem to dominate but this failed to materialise with Selby having a further penalty chance 6 minutes later which, once again went astray. Martin Protheroe replaced Ollie O’Brien after 32 minutes with Selby having a further difficult penalty chance from 45 metres 2 minutes later which fell short. On the stroke of half time Josh Greenfield replaced Mark Tanner and in the first minute of added-on time Selby at last went in front when young Charlton McCoy went over for an unconverted try after a quickly taken tap penalty. Half time arrived with the advantage to Selby by 10 points to 7.

Selby started the second half playing some scintillating running rugby and, but for over-eagerness and taking the wrong options, could have scored at least a couple more tries in the first 5 minutes of the half with Duncan Hardy also unlucky not to get on the score-sheet after just being beaten to the touch down by a Salem defender after a kick through the defence. Selby had to wait until the 51st minute and after Salem’s second row forward, James Cunliffe, had been yellow carded, to increase their advantage with Ben Lunt running in a typical winger’s try, once again unconverted, this time by Porter, to give Selby a 15 points to 7 lead. With O’Brien back on for Tom Bell and Salem back to 15 men Salem then came back into the game with their forwards showing just how dangerous they could be, shunting Selby back off their own put-in and forcing Selby’s defence into conceding 2 penalties, both of which were missed by centre Jonny Robinson. Sandwiched in-between these penalties, Alex Webster just failed to get the touch down after another kick through the Salem defence. Selby went further ahead after 61 minutes with Cruise scoring an opportunist interception try from 18 metres out and kicking his first conversion of the afternoon to put Selby 22 points to 7 in front. Mark Tanner replaced Duncan Hardy at this point with Selby now running the tiring Salem ragged with the outstanding Martin Protheroe winning a long line-out throw before being held short of the try line but the ball was spread wide for leading try scorer Dan Porter to touch down unopposed wide out in the 68th minute with Cruise kicking an excellent conversion. Five minutes later another try from flanker Jacob Robinson converted by Cruise put Selby out of sight at 36 points to 7. Another yellow card for Salem, this time to centre Sam Gardner, in the 78th minute, gave further advantage to Selby. After 80 minutes young Charlton McCoy scored an absolutely brilliant individual try weaving his way down the touchline and past 3 defenders before touching down for an unconverted try with Dan Porter wrapping things up after 3 minutes of added-on-time touching down in the corner for his 14th try of the season, giving Selby an impressive 46 points to 7 win.

With both Doncaster Phoenix and Yarnbury winning their games Selby stay in 3rd place in Yorkshire 2 but by virtue of Yarnbury failing to win a bonus point in their win at West Leeds are only 2 points behind them and 3 behind Phoenix. With both Phoenix and Yarnbury looking to have eminently winnable games next Saturday, Selby’s trip to Leodiensian is a ‘must win’ encounter.