NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2.
WEST PARK LEEDS RUFC 24 – 32 SELBY RUFC

With both Doncaster Phoenix and Yarnbury both having winnable games, at least on paper, it was important for Selby to continue their winning streak and, if possible, to come away from the Sycamores with a bonus point win. With a 24 points to 3 advantage at half time and the 4 try bonus point secured, it looked to be a job well done but if there was any game of 2 halves then this was it with West Park Leeds pegging Selby back to 27 points to 24 before a Dan Porter try in added on time put the issue beyond doubt giving Selby a 34 points to 26 win and robbing West Park Leeds of a bonus point which they probably just about deserved for their second half comeback.

With Andrew Pocklington unable to play, Mark Tanner was brought into the starting line up at prop with new signing Thomas Coates starting on the bench together with Jacob Robinson and Alex Arthur.

West Park took an early lead with a penalty from fly half Phil Davies when Selby were caught offside in front of the posts after 3 minutes but Selby wasted little time in going in front after turnover ball and a successful line out on the West Park 10 metre line was spread for centre Iain Adamson to score wide out after 9 minutes – the difficult conversion was missed. The Selby forwards were making great inroads into the West Park defence with James Blaymire (Selby’s Man of the Match) and Tom Bell in particular being prominent. It was then Selby’s turn to take a battering from the big West Park forwards but excellent defending prevented any score with Selby then taking play deep into West Park territory forcing a penalty 15 metres out – a quick tap penalty took West Park by surprise and after 2 phases the ball was spread for skipper Duncan Hardy to score wide out – again no conversion but Selby had a 10 points to 3 lead after 26 minutes. More excellent play by the Selby forwards, with Blaymire again outstanding, came to nothing after Selby were penalised for holding on. With West Park down to 14 after flanker Andy Brodie was yellow carded Selby went further in front after 34 minutes after another tap penalty with the Selby backs then putting Iain Adamson over in the corner for his second try with Cruise kicking an excellent conversion and Selby in front by 17 points to 3. The bonus point try was secured 4 minutes later when, with the West park defenders appealing to the referee for a knock-on by Selby which never materialised, number 8 Martin Protheroe strolled over the line unopposed for a try under the posts – Cruise added the extras to increase Selby’s lead to 24 points to 3. Job done - not a bit of it with Selby’s problems starting in the sixth minute of added on time with prop Tom Bell yellow carded. Despite Selby’s 21 point advantage at half time, West Park had certainly not been pushovers, with their forwards causing Selby plenty of problems and perhaps being let down by some ineffectual play from their backs.

Alex Arthur replaced Alex Webster at the start of the second half but with the half only 5 minutes old, James Blaymire, one of Selby’s most effective forwards on the day was yellow carded with Selby now down to 13 men – the resultant penalty resulted in a try for the West Park scrum half, Will Morecombe with Davies adding the extras. A long range penalty after 49 minutes from Cruise sailed narrowly wide and with Tom Bell having served his 10 minutes in the bin, he was replaced by debutant Thomas Coates. Four minutes later more West Park pressure resulted in a further try, this time from prop Jon Stott and improved by Davies – more problems for Selby with Alex Arthur mysteriously yellow carded and Selby momentarily reduced once again to 13 men and with their lead cut to just 7 points. However, a couple of minutes later Blaymire re-joined the fray with Selby now finding a little more momentum. An ambitious 44 metre penalty from Cruise fell well short and with Jacob Robinson and Alex Webster replacing Mark Tanner and Iain Adamson and Alex Arthur back on the field, Selby were back to full strength and once more on the attack. A straightforward penalty from Cruise after 67 minutes put Selby in front by 27 points to 17 but Selby were rocked back on their heels after 78 minutes when a promising attacking move by their backs was intercepted on the West Park 25 metre line with replacement centre Ollie Trace sprinting 70 metres or so for the try under the posts – Davies kicked the simple conversion to put his side within 3 points of Selby. After 3 minutes of added on time a mistake by the West Park defence was pounced upon by Martin Protheroe who released full back Dan Porter to sprint in for the clinching unconverted try and give Selby a hard won victory by 34 points to 26 and maintain the pressure on Doncaster Phoenix and Yarnbury at the top of the League.