Referee – Mr. Alan Roberts – Yorkshire Society

This game was a potential banana skin for Selby against an improving Roundhegians side who had gone down by 57 points to 12 at Sandhill Lane earlier in the season but who have improved immeasurably since then. After an ordinary first half performance, Selby improved in the second half and ran out deserving bonus point winners by 33 points to 21 in a thrilling encounter in which the lead changed hands on 5 occasions against a very competitive and capable Roundhegians side.

With Andrew Pocklington and Matthew Wood both unavailable, skipper Duncan Hardy started at prop with Martin Protheroe at number 8 – Mark Tanner, Iain Adamson and Oliver O’Brien started on the bench.

Selby were nearly ahead in the 1st minute after a charge down on the Roundhegians 22 but play was brought back and a penalty awarded to Roundhegians for a Selby player ‘going in at the side’ of a ruck. Selby did go ahead after 11 minutes when full back Dan Porter brilliantly turned defence into attack after fielding a deep kick into the Selby 22 by Roundhegians and making 50 metres with a mazy run to release Alex Webster, Karim Brown and James Blaymire (Selby’s man of the match) for Duncan Hardy to stroll in under the posts for the try converted by Josh Cruise. Roundhegians were soon level after turning over possession on the Selby 30 metre line and spreading the ball wide for winger Elliot Jackson to power over for the try – scrum half Alex Jones converted to bring the scores level. A bad mistake from Selby after 28 minutes, when a poor pass went to ground, allowed the Roundhegians centre Tim Smith to hack on and collect and to run unopposed over the line for the try improved by Alex Jones putting Roundhegians in front by 14 points to 7. Mark Tanner replaced Tom Bell at prop after 33 minutes. Six minutes later, on the stroke of half time, Selby drew level after some smart work from winger Ben Lunt and flanker Jacob Robinson putting hooker Josh Greenfield in for the 1st of his 3 tries with Cruise once again converting. Roundhegians could have gone into the break 3 points in front but Alex Jones missed the 40 metre chance after Selby had been penalised for being in front of the kicker from a penalty of their own – as it was Selby went into the break level at 14 points apiece.

A great run by flanker Jacob Robinson after 3 minutes of the second half put Selby on the attack with big Martin Protheroe making massive inroads into the Roundhegians defence before centre Sam Weller went over for a well-deserved first try of the season – Cruise missed the conversion but Selby were in front again by 19 points to 14. This lead was short-lived, however, with Roundhegians straight back on the attack and creating a huge overlap for winger Elliot Jackson to score his second try of the afternoon – Alex Jones kicked an excellent conversion to give his side the lead by 21 points to 19 after 45 minutes. O’Brien replaced Protheroe after 53 minutes with Selby re-taking the lead 3 minutes later with Greenfield again on hand to take the final pass and score near the posts with Cruise converting to put Selby in front by 26 points to 21. With Adamson on for Alex Webster after 64 minutes and Protheroe returning for the tireless Karim Brown 10 minutes later, Selby put the result beyond doubt after 77 minutes when young winger Charlton McCoy made a brilliant run deep into the Roundhegians defence before putting hooker Josh Greenfield in for his hat- trick of tries and his 10th of the season – Cruise converted giving Selby a bonus point 33 points to 21 victory to keep the pressure on League leaders Doncaster Phoenix.