NORTHERN DIVISION – YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2
SELBY RUFC 25 – 19 SHEFFIELD MEDICALS RUFC

Referee – Mr. Peter Stentiford – North Yorkshire Society

The last League game of the season in Yorkshire 2 with Selby needing a win to claim the League Championship - after their exertions at Twickenham the previous Saturday, Selby were missing key players with Matthew Wood, Sam Weller and Jack Daniels unavailable and James Blaymire out through injury. Mark Tanner started at hooker with Josh Greenfield taking the scrum half spot and Alex Arthur starting at centre. Ollie O’Brien, Thomas Coates and Iain Adamson started on the bench.

In front of a bumper crowd in excess of 400, Medicals kicked off to the Leeds Road end with the advantage of a strong breeze and blustery rain in their favour but it was Selby who had a dream start with a long pass from Josh Cruise finding full back Dan Porter in support who offloaded to centre Alex Webster to score an excellent try – Cruise’s conversion was narrowly wide but Selby had a 5 points to nil lead after only a minute of the match. However, only 4 minutes later Medicals were in front after a chip through the Selby defence found touch and with the lineout won Medicals second row forward Steve Edgar went over for the try – fly half Ted Farmer converted for a 7 points to 5 lead for Medicals. Selby had the chance to re-take the lead after 13 minutes when Medicals were caught offside but the penalty chance was missed by Cruise. With play flowing from end to end Selby flanker Jacob Robinson looked sure to put Selby in front after some excellent expansive play but a last ditch ankle tap from the Medicals full back foiled his attempt with disastrous effect with Robinson having to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder and replaced by Oliver O’Brien. Worse was to follow after 28 minutes when centre Alex Webster was tackled into touch with the result being suspected ligament damage to his left knee – Iain Adamson joined the fray. Selby did re-take the lead after 31 minutes after an outstanding piece of play from Porter from the Selby 20 metre line which resulted in a determined try from number 8 Martin Protheroe – the conversion attempt went narrowly wide but Selby were back in front by 10 points to 7. Only 3 minutes later, Selby increased their advantage after some superb interplay between Greenfield and winger Ben Lunt saw Protheroe just make it to the try line for his second try – another missed conversion attempt but the half time break arrived with Selby in front by 15 points to 7 after largely dominating proceedings in the half but the game far from over against a very good Sheffield Medicals side who had really pressurised Selby in the minutes leading to the break.

Thomas Coates replaced Mark Tanner at the start of the second half with Selby now having the advantage of the breeze which had dropped significantly and it only took 3 minutes of the half before Selby increased their lead with the try of the match – centre Alex Arthur, scored a brilliant individual try, weaving his way past defender after defender before touching down for the bonus point try – perhaps some small consolation after his disappointment at not playing some part in Selby’s win at Twickenham in the Senior Vase Final – Cruise kicked the conversion to put Selby in front by 22 points to 7. Medicals always looked dangerous and but for a dropped ball after 47 minutes may have reduced their arrears but Selby cleared the danger with a long kick out of defence. Selby then looked to have increased their lead after 51 minutes when winger Ben Lunt went over in the corner but the referee pulled play back for a forward pass. Selby were further depleted after 55 minutes when the magnificent Protheroe had to leave the field with an ankle injury – Mark Tanner re-joined the fray with Selby’s ‘substitute cupboard’ now totally bare. Medicals lost replacement James Indoe to the bin after 63 minutes with Cruise kicking the resultant penalty to give Selby a healthy 25 points to 7 advantage and only the last quarter to play. However, being a man down for 10 minutes didn’t seem to affect Medicals who were coming more and more into the game with Selby showing obvious signs of tired legs after a long season – the Medicals pressure paid off after 67 minutes with their number 8 and Captain Robert Fawdry scoring an excellent try which went unconverted after Farmer missed a straightforward conversion attempt. Another great run by Porter 2 minutes later came to nothing but it was Medicals now who were threatening to ruin the party and their pressure paid off again after 75 minutes with prop Ali Shaw scoring Medicals third try and Farmer converting a difficult kick. Five minutes to go plus added on time with Medicals only trailing by 19 points to 25 and the Selby support worrying that their team might not hold out. However, despite 4 minutes of added on time, Selby managed to repel all that Medicals threw at them and finished their season on a high with the Yorkshire 2 Championship as well as the Senior Vase.

This was a magnificent game to watch with some of the best backs play from both sides seen at Sandhill Lane this season. Sheffield Medicals demonstrated that they are an excellent side and their rise through the Leagues may well continue next season as they appear to be a good bet for promotion to Yorkshire 1.

Selby can now have a welcome rest after a tremendous season and look forward to re-joining Yorkshire 1 next September.