NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
KEIGHLEY RUFC 14 – 33 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. Andy Hodgson – North Yorkshire Society

Recent form would have suggested that Selby were favourites to win this game on Saturday but Keighley has never been a happy hunting ground for the Swans with 3 defeats from their last 3 visits, their last win coming as far back as September 2007. Keighley, despite trailing by 11 points to 7 at the half time break, had slightly the better of the first half but a much improved Selby came out firing in the second half running out deserved winners by 33 points to 14, climbing to sixth place in the Yorkshire 1 League table.

Skipper Duncan Hardy started at hooker for Selby with Tom Bell back at prop. Selby’s bench had a youthful look about it with Mark Tanner named as front row replacement with Charlie Cicero and winger Alex Hare the other 2 substitutes, the latter making his first team debut.

Keighley started brightly, threatening the Selby line after only 2 minutes with flanker Scott Dyson bursting through the Selby defence but being tackled when a pass to a colleague may well have resulted in a try. Then, a minute later and somewhat against the run of play, it was Selby who went in front after full back Dan Porter made a run out of defence down the line before punting the ball over the Keighley defence and racing 40 metres to narrowly win the race for the touchdown for an unconverted try. Selby were now doing most of the pressing with Keighley conceding penalty after penalty, the first in the 9th minute for pulling down in the line – Cruise missed the conversion but he made no mistake 3 minutes later when Keighley were penalised for ‘going over the top’ to give Selby an 8 points to nil lead. After 15 minutes Keighley were caught offside with Cruise kicking an excellent penalty, albeit with the help of the crossbar, from 45 metres putting Selby in front by 11 points to nil. That was just about as good as it got for Selby in the first half with Keighley coming back into the game after excellent support play saw number 8 Stuart Inman cross for the try near the posts and centre Ben Blackwell kicking the extras after 19 minutes. Selby were then under relentless pressure but their defence held out before Mark Tanner replaced Tom Bell and Charlie Cicero took over from Martin Protheroe on the 30 minute mark. The rest of the half resulted in stalemate with neither side able to add to their tally of points with Selby in front at the break by 11 points to 7.

Selby came out for the 2nd half with all guns blazing – five minutes into the half Charlton McCoy was tackled into touch 5 metres short after relentless Selby pressure – 3 minutes later a Cruise drop goal attempt went wide with Selby having nothing to show for all their pressure. Another try looked likely after 51 minutes with the final pass agonisingly going into touch rather than reaching the wing. Alex Hare replaced Ben Lunt on the wing and after some excellent back play scored with his first touch, showing a rare burst of speed to touch down near the corner for an unconverted try after 54 minutes – 16 points to 5 for Selby. Six minutes later more excellent running rugby saw flanker Rihi Brown score an excellent try converted by Cruise to give Selby a 23 points to 7 advantage. After 66 minutes Keighley were caught offside, Cruise obliging with the penalty from 39 metres. Three minutes later, Selby went further in front with, perhaps, the best try of the match after Dan Porter went on an amazing 50 metre run before offloading to winger Alex Hare who scored his second try, and Selby’s fourth and bonus point try, on debut – Cruise kicked the extras to give Selby an unassailable 33 points to 7 lead. Protheroe and Lunt then replaced McCoy and Arthur but it was Keighley who had the last word with a consolation try after 72 minutes after the ball was chipped over the Selby defence for 2nd row forward David Iliff to collect and score near the posts – Blackwell converted after which Tom Bell replaced Andrew Pocklington for Selby. There was no further score in the remaining 11 minutes of the match with Selby the deserving winners by 33 points to 14.

Next Saturday, Selby entertain Heath at Sandhill Lane (Kick Off 1500 hours) before travelling to play Ilkley on Saturday 12 October. They then have 2 successive home games against Scarborough and Old Brodleians.