NORTHERN DIVISION - YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
SELBY RUFC 22 – 20 SCARBOROUGH RUFC

Referee – Mr. Garry Dixon – Central Yorkshire Society

Another bumper crowd and another nerve jangling climax to a thrilling encounter at Sandhill Lane on Saturday. The visitors were Scarborough, unbeaten and in 2nd place in Yorkshire 1 with Selby having to make wholesale changes to their selected XV. Optimism was high with Selby taking an early lead with a Cruise penalty but from then on it was Scarborough who dominated most of the first half taking a 20 points to 6 lead at the break and missing at least 3 try scoring opportunities and they were no doubt disappointed not to have had a bigger lead going into the second half. It was a different Selby in the second half, scoring 2 unconverted tries and 2 penalties without reply from Scarborough, running out winners by 22 points to 20, putting an end to Scarborough’s unbeaten run.

Both prop Andrew Pocklington and number 8 Martin Protheroe were absentees from the Selby’s selected XV, both suffering from ankle injuries and with Alex Arthur unavailable, Selby had to make wholesale changes. Thomas Bell replaced Pocklington at prop with Jacob Robinson switching from flanker to number 8 – Dominic Bosher, having impressed in Selby’s 2nd XV made his debut at flanker. Alex Hare made his first start on the wing in place of Arthur with Ben Lunt starting at full back in place of Dan Porter who made up the bench together with Benjamin Booth, back in contention after a long term injury and Rihi Brown, still feeling the effects of an ankle injury suffered in the defeat at Ilkley.

Selby started well and after a well worked break into Scarborough territory went into the lead with a Cruise penalty after only 2 minutes when Scarborough were caught offside. From the kick-off, Scarborough then started to take control with their backs looking particular dangerous and punching massive holes in the Selby defence and went in front after 7 minutes when their centre, Benji Cottle, somehow managed to evade some very suspect tackling from at least 4 Selby defenders and touch down for the try – winger Tom Ratcliffe slotted the conversion to give Scarborough a 7 points to 3 lead. Scarborough should have scored their second try after 15 minutes but the ball was dropped with the try line undefended and at the mercy of the Scarborough backs – a Selby infringement seconds later enabled Ratcliffe to slot his first penalty kick putting his side in the lead by 10 points to 3. Another try beckoned for Scarborough after 18 minutes but another enforced error allowed Cruise to collect and clear up-field. A try-saving tackle at the corner flag prevented another try from Scarborough after 26 minutes but they did increase their lead a minute later when Selby were caught offside with Ratcliffe converting the penalty. Despite the overall Scarborough dominance Selby were making occasional forays into opposition territory and it was from one of these that Selby earned a penalty which Cruise converted to reduce Selby’s arrears to 13 points to 6 after 31 minutes. Scarborough came storming back and increased their advantage after 35 minutes with a try from their winger Zbynek Schutz – the trusty boot of Ratcliffe added the extras. Dan Porter now entered the fray replacing Charlie McCoy with Ben Lunt switching to the wing and Porter at full back. Selby did have a penalty opportunity in the 2nd minute of added on time but Cruise’s penalty kick went wide with Selby going into the break 20 points to 6 in arrears.

The second half couldn’t have started better for Selby with a try in the very first minute. Selby exerted pressure on the Scarborough line after the kick off forcing a penalty from the Scarborough defence – a quick tap nearly saw the Selby forwards over the try line – the ball was re-cycled and spread wide for Alex Hare to go over in the corner for an unconverted try. Five minutes later Scarborough centre Jan Tieber was yellow carded for deliberate offside with Cruise kicking the resultant penalty and reducing Selby’s arrears to 20 points to 14 and game on! Unable to gain more advantage from a 14 man Scarborough for the remaining 10 minutes of the sin-binning, Selby were forced into another change after 64 minutes with Benjamin Booth replacing Sam Weller who was suffering from a shoulder injury. Scarborough were back on the attack now and pressurising the Selby try line – the pressure told with Selby skipper Duncan Hardy yellow carded and Selby down to 14 men. However Scarborough were to fail to take advantage, spurning a penalty kick at goal which would have put them 2 scores in front in favour of another scrum to attempt to score a try whilst Selby were a man short – however, this ploy failed with Selby clearing their lines and breaking up-field into opposition territory where, after some excellent inter-passing between Ben Lunt and second row Brendan Lanaghan, Selby centre Teihana Brown was on hand to touch down for an unconverted try in the 69th minute with Scarborough now only 1 point in front. With Scarborough now seemingly incurring the wrath of the referee and conceding numerous penalties, Selby had the chance to re-take the lead in the 73rd minute with a penalty more difficult than some of those that fly half Cruise had missed earlier in the afternoon but his kick sailed high and straight between the posts putting Selby in front by 22 points to 20. With Charlton McCoy now back on for Jacob Robinson who was suffering from a re-occurrence of a shoulder injury, Selby held on, despite further Scarborough pressure to take the 4 point win and move up one place in Yorkshire 1 to 7th.

This was certainly a game of two halves with Selby showing tremendous tenacity and spirit in their second half fight-back and for those reasons, they probably just about deserved their win. Scarborough will be wondering what might have been had they taken their chances in the first half. Next Saturday Selby host Old Brodleians at Sandhill Lane Kick Off 3 P.M. – an eighty minute performance similar to their second half efforts in this game would certainly calm the frayed nerves of their many supporters!!