NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2.
SELBY RUFC 39 – 7 RIPON RUFC

Referee – Mr. John Eyre – Central Yorkshire Society

After a 3 week lay off for Christmas and New Year, Selby re-commenced their League campaign with the return fixture against old friends and rivals Ripon, who they had beaten earlier in the season at Mallorie Park by 36 points to 16. With Ollie O’Brien pulling out of the side because of illness, Martin Protheroe started at number 8 with Rob Triffitt coming onto the bench for his first involvement since early November after a bout of flu. Perhaps not surprisingly the long lay off produced a scrappy first quarter but Selby eventually found their rhythm and went into the break with a 17 points to nil advantage. Selby increased the tempo in the second half and ran out convincing winners with a bonus point 39 points to 7 victory.

Selby had to re-organise after only 5 minutes when second row forward Matthew Wood had to leave the field with an injury and be replaced by Triffitt. Both sides had opportunities to score in the first 20 minutes but mistakes and wrong options failed to reward considerable pressure from Selby with Ripon’s best chance being foiled when one of their backs was hauled down 3 metres short of the try line. A 45 metre penalty attempt by Josh Cruise fell short after 19 minutes but 4 minutes later Selby opened the scoring with Cruise, McCoy and Robinson all involved in the build up before skipper Duncan Hardy crashed over for the try with Cruise converting. A Josh Cruise drop goal attempt hit the post after 30 minutes but Selby increased their lead 2 minutes later after smartly turning defence into attack with a wonderful break by centre Alex Webster, a feature of his play all afternoon, with McCoy again involved, to produce a huge overlap for leading try scorer Dan Porter to score an unconverted try. Josh Greenfield replaced Protheroe after 35 minutes with Hardy switching to number 8 and on the stroke of half time Hardy scored his second try of the match after James Blaymire had stolen the ball from a Ripon ruck on 45 metres and made considerable ground before releasing McCoy who put Hardy over for the try – there was no conversion but Selby had a useful 17 points to nil advantage at the break.

Selby surged further in front in the first minute of the second half after another excellent Webster break with Jack Daniels in support, taking the pass before feeding Porter who scored his 14th try of the season and with it secured the bonus point for Selby – Cruise converted to give Selby a 24 points to nil lead. Only a minute later Ripon had the chance to reduce their arrears but fly half Guy Watkinson’s penalty attempt sailed narrowly wide. Selby were then down to 14 with a player yellow carded for attempting to delay a Ripon penalty but Ripon were to fail to take advantage of the extra man and with Protheroe back on for the ever improving Tom Bell, Selby increased their advantage with a smartly taken Cruise drop goal. Iain Adamson replaced the now rested Dan Porter after 51 minutes and with Selby back to full strength 4 minutes later Hardy was nearly over the try line for a length of the field try. The magnificent Selby forwards were now creating all sorts of pressure for the Ripon defence and after Protheroe was stopped just short of the line, the ball was spread wide for winger Ben Lunt to touch down and Cruise to convert for a 32 points to nil lead after 59 minutes. With another Selby player yellow carded for holding on after 62 minutes, Ripon had their best spell of the game putting the Selby defence under extreme pressure and scoring a close range try by their number 8, Adam Scott-Paul – Watkinson converted but Selby were still comfortably in front with a 32 points to 7 lead and had the final say 2 minutes after being back to full strength in the 75th minute. A Ripon scrum on their own 5 metre line was taken against the head by the Selby forwards with big Martin Protheroe surging over the line and scoring the inevitable try – despite the missed conversion, Selby were now in front by 39 points to 7 and looked to increase that lead in the final play of the game with James Blaymire gathering a kick over the Ripon defence but play was brought back after he was adjudged to have been in front of the kicker and therefore offside.

With Yarnbury losing at home to Doncaster Phoenix by the narrowest of margins, Selby are now up to 2nd place in Yorkshire 2 and only 2 points behind Phoenix. Next week’s game at Roundhegians will be a severe test for Selby, who despite winning against the same opposition at Sandhill Lane earlier this season by 57 points to 12, will face a much improved Roundhegians side when they travel to Leeds on Saturday.