NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2.
DONCASTER PHOENIX RUFC 13 – 27 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. Phil Shaw – Central Yorkshire Society

After all the controversy regarding when this game was to take place, Selby travelled to Doncaster full of grim determination. In a match billed in the Phoenix Programme as the ‘Title Decider’ and played out with the full razzmatazz of an RFU Championship fixture in front of getting on for a thousand spectators, Selby came away with an excellent 27 points to 13 victory which guarantees their promotion back to Yorkshire 1 after a two year absence. It also means that they can finish as Champions of Yorkshire 2 with a win over Sheffield Medicals at Sandhill Lane at a time and date still to be confirmed.

Selby took to the field with key players Dan Porter, Thomas Coates and Martin Protheroe all on the substitutes bench with the preferred starting line up including Tom Bell at prop, Iain Adamson at full back and Matthew Wood at number 8.

Selby started the game with the advantage of a strong breeze, but it was Phoenix who enjoyed all the early pressure, forcing Selby into conceding early penalties. The first 3 of these were kicked to the Selby 5 metre line with Phoenix hoping to score tries from one of their favourite tactics of ‘catch and drive’ but Selby’s tigerish defence repelled this threat, so much so, that Phoenix resorted to kicking for goal on their 4th penalty chance but the normally reliable fly half, Dan Storey pushed the straightforward chance wide. Selby then made inroads into the Phoenix defence with Phoenix caught offside to give Josh Cruise his first penalty chance of the afternoon – he obliged from fully 45 metres after 8 minutes. Things went from bad to worse for Phoenix 3 minutes later after a kick deep into their territory was fielded by their full back who delayed his clearance kick to touch – centre Alex Webster charged down the kick, gathered the ball and went over under the posts for the try improved by Cruise to give Selby an early 10 points to nil lead. Another penalty from Cruise, this time from 47 metres, gave Selby a 13 points to nil advantage after 14 minutes. Three minutes later Phoenix lost their line out with prop Andrew Pocklington making good yards into the opposition’s defence before Phoenix were penalised for going over the top – Cruise converted the penalty from 25 metres. Martin Protheroe replaced Karim Brown after 23 minutes shortly before Phoenix fly half Storey pushed his second penalty chance wide after 26 minutes but made amends 2 minutes later after Selby were penalised for holding on. Thomas Coates replaced Tom Bell at prop after 32 minutes – two minutes later Phoenix looked to benefit from their first try scoring opportunity but the final pass sailed through their winger’s hands into touch but Phoenix did reduce their deficit with another Dan Storey penalty after 35 minutes. However, Selby had the last word of the first half with another Cruise penalty after 37 minutes and went into the break with a handy 19 points to 6 advantage. The feeling amongst the large Selby following was the game was far from over with Phoenix having the advantage of the breeze in the second half.

Dan Porter replaced Alex Arthur 3 minutes into the second half and after repelling more Phoenix pressure, Selby had their best spell of the match with Cruise kicking his 5th penalty after 52 minutes with Karim Brown replacing Protheroe 4 minutes later. After 60 minutes Selby scored their second try with Alex Webster making a wonderful break before offloading to Porter who went over in the corner for his 33rd try of the season – the difficult conversion attempt failed but Selby surely had a match winning advantage with a lead of 27 points to 6 – this looked even better 7 minutes later after Phoenix number 8, Ryan Peacey, was yellow carded and Phoenix down to 14 – the resultant penalty from Cruise failed. After 69 minutes Dan Porter had to leave the field with a nasty looking cut to the head with Alex Arthur re-joining the fray – Protheroe was also back on for Matthew Wood 3 minutes later. The last 10 minutes of the match saw Phoenix re-double their efforts putting tremendous pressure on the Selby line – the pressure eventually told after 75 minutes after a penalty kick to the Selby 5 metre line – the Phoenix ‘catch and drive’, for the only time in the match, brought dividends with Captain and centre Andy Ellis claiming the try. Storey converted to reduce Phoenix’s arrears to 13 points to 27. More pressure from Phoenix in the dying minutes of the game was excellently defended by Selby with Phoenix desperately attempting to score another converted try which would have given them a losing bonus point and Selby’s task against Sheffield Medicals marginally harder. Selby however, realised the significance, blocking all the Phoenix effort and running out richly deserved winners by 27 points to 13.

Selby’s man-of-the-match was flanker James Blaymire and Alex Webster & Duncan Hardy were outstanding but this was an excellent team effort with Phoenix being closed down consistently by Selby’s hard tackling forwards and backs with the main threat coming from the Phoenix forwards.

Selby have now won their last 18 games, their last defeat occurring at Sandhill Lane on Saturday 17 November 2012 with a defeat by Phoenix at Sandhill Lane by 35 points to 27. Just 2 games to go now – 2 more wins could signal the end of a wonderfully successful season and Selby Senior Vase Winners and Yorkshire League Division 2 Champions – we shall see.