NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2.
BRADFORD SALEM RFC 7 – 36 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. Carl Walsh – Central Yorkshire Society

With Yarnbury still hanging on to Selby’s coat-tails, but with games rapidly running out, this was a very important fixture for Selby against one of the forms teams of Yorkshire 2 – Salem winning 5 of their last 6 League fixtures and only losing in the last minutes of their home fixture against League leaders Doncaster Phoenix.

Selby started with one change from their selected 18 with winger Alex Arthur still sore after his outing against Castleford. Iain Adamson started on the wing with young Charlton McCoy coming onto the bench.

Selby kicked off with the advantage of the strong breeze, but all the early pressure came from Salem with their large pack dominating possession and had the first opportunity to put points on the board but fly half Andy Robinson missed a drop goal opportunity. Rather against the run of play however, it was Selby who took the lead, after number 8 Martin Protheroe expertly ripped possession from a Salem forward before making good yards and then spreading the ball for centre Alex Webster and full back Dan Porter to give winger Iain Adamson the opportunity for a try which he took beautifully after 22 minutes with fly half Josh Cruise converting to give Selby an unlikely 7 points to nil lead. Salem equalised 5 minutes later when, with the Selby defence looking solid, Salem winger Sam Savage dinked the ball through his markers and dribbled the ball a further 5 metres before picking up and scoring a well worked individualist try near the posts – Andy Robinson converted to draw Salem level. At this juncture Rob Triffitt replaced Protheroe with Salem then spurning an ‘odds on’ chance to go in front after a wonderful run from their centre Tony Williams came to nothing after he seemed to lose his way with a clear run to the line. It was still mostly Salem pressure – their forwards camped on the Selby 5 metre line on at least 2 occasions with a penalty relieving the pressure on the first occasion and then an interception from Selby’s man of the match, prop Andrew Pocklington, was offloaded to Cruise who kicked to touch to deny Salem. Half time arrived with the large contingent of Selby supporters looking slightly concerned after a first half in which Salem had looked the better side and but for stoic defending from Selby’s forwards and backs alike, may well have had the lead at half time and would have the advantage of the breeze in the second.

Salem started the second half strongly with Andy Robinson missing a penalty after 3 minutes but after 10 minutes of the half, with the Salem forwards tiring, Selby started to play some excellent running rugby and re-took the lead after 54 minutes when the ever-aggressive flanker James Blaymire started a move involving centre Alex Webster, winger Ben Lunt and skipper Duncan Hardy with full back Dan Porter on hand to take the final pass and score an excellent try – Cruise converted to put Selby back in front by 14 points to 7. Two minutes later Salem replacement Jordan Ashworth was yellow carded with Selby going further in front with the resultant penalty from Josh Cruise. With Salem down to 14, it was Selby who were now on top and went further in front after 64 minutes when Cruise feigned to pass left but instead passed inside to Porter who made significant progress down the line before offloading inside to Ben Lunt who went over for another excellent try improved by Cruise to put Selby in front by 24 points to 7. Only 2 minutes later, Selby full back Dan Porter scored the try of the match with a brilliant individual effort from within his own 22 metre line to secure the winning bonus point for Selby – Cruise duly converted to give Selby an unassailable 31 points to 7 advantage. Charlton McCoy replaced Lunt and Mark Tanner was on for prop Thomas Coates before Selby had the last word in added on time after the Selby forwards stole the only line out ball Salem lost all afternoon on the Salem 10 metre line – the ball was eventually spread wide for Charlton McCoy to steam over for an unconverted try and give Selby a richly deserved win by 36 points to 7.