NORTHERN DIVISION – YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 2
SELBY RUFC 70 – 7 MOORTOWN RUFC

Referee – Mr. Mike Ramsden – North Yorkshire Society

A depleted Moortown, shorn of players because of injury and non-availability, came to Sandhill Lane on Tuesday evening with only 12 players, but with the required number of front row participants. Their numbers were increased shortly before half time with a late arrival, but by that time the contest in the true sense of the word was over with Selby ahead by 56 points to nil. To their credit Moortown put in a tremendous effort in the second half, enjoying long periods of territorial advantage, only ‘losing the half by 14 points to 7 with Selby running out winners by 70 points to 7.

Selby rested prop Andrew Pocklington, second row Karim Brown and back row forward Matthew Wood with Tom Bell starting at prop after a lengthy injury lay-off and Rob Triffitt starting in the second row. Oliver O’Brien came into the side at flanker with Jacob Robinson on the bench with Tom Coates and Alex Arthur.

Selby were quickly into their stride with Oliver O’Brien the provider for a first minute Charlton McCoy try improved by Josh Cruise. After 7 minutes Selby had doubled their advantage with centre Sam Weller the provider for a James Blaymire try, again converted by Cruise. Tries were coming thick and fast now with hooker Josh Greenfield scoring in the 8th minute and scrum half Jack Daniels 3 minutes later after a great run by Charlton McCoy and both improved by Cruise – the 4 try bonus point already won. Centre Iain Adamson was the beneficiary of a superb turnover from Protheroe with a try after 19 minutes with Protheroe himself going over 3 minutes later, both tries converted by Cruise. Thomas Coates then replaced Josh Greenfield with the former being the recipient of an unselfish pass from winger Ben Lunt to record Selby’s 7th try in the 26th minute converted by Cruise. With Alex Arthur on for Sam Weller, Selby wrapped up first half proceedings after 35 minutes with Charlton McCoy showing a wonderful burst of speed to touch down for another try duly converted by Cruise and give Selby a 56 points to nil advantage at half time.

Selby brought off flanker James Blaymire at the start of the second half and chose not to replace him and after 46 minutes Moortown reduced their arrears with centre Mark Shires scoring an excellent try and converting himself. Jacob Robinson replaced Oliver O’Brien but within a couple of minutes was mysteriously yellow carded to bring parity to the game with 13 against 13 but Selby, on one of their rare forages into enemy territory, went further ahead with a Martin Protheroe try improved by Cruise after which Josh Greenfield re-joined the fray in place of scrum half Jack Daniels. Shortly afterwards, a Moortown drop goal attempt from fly half Jack Lewis hit the upright with Moortown enjoying large phases of territorial advantage. However, Selby went further ahead after 56 minutes when Ben Lunt, again unselfishly, put prop Tom Bell over for a try converted by Cruise and bring an end to the evening’s scoring with Moortown enjoying most of the territorial advantage for the remaining 19 minutes of the game. Another bonus point win by 70 points to 7 meant that Selby need a further 6 points to guarantee promotion back to Yorkshire 1, providing of course that Yarnbury win all their remaining 3 games and take bonus points from each.