NORTHERN DIVISION - YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
SELBY RUFC 15 – 23 OLD BRODLEIANS RUFC

Referee – Mr. Phil Gordge – East Yorkshire Society

One has to go back to January 2011 when Selby were last prevented from scoring a try – their failure to score a try in this encounter against Old Brodleians cost them dear with only the reliable boot of fly half Josh Cruise keeping them in touch with a well organised Brodleians outfit. The first half started well for Selby who built a lead of 9 points to nil by the 13th minute but Brodleians hit back with 2 tries, one of which was converted to go into the break with a 12 points to 9 advantage. Despite levelling early in the second half Brodleians once again hit back with another try – an exchange of penalties left Brodleians in front after 80 minutes by 20 points to 15. With the last kick of the game Brodleians converted a penalty to deny Selby a losing bonus point, something they probably deserved in this close fought encounter.

With both winger Ben Lunt (injured in training) and flanker Rihi Brown, out injured having failed to recover from an ankle injury, from Selby’s selected XV and centre Sam Weller relegated to the bench with a niggling shoulder injury, Selby were forced to call on gnarled second row forward veterans Mark Toye and Jason Cicero. Alex Arthur replaced Lunt in the backs with Charlton McCoy off the bench and moved to the wing. Alex Oliver moved from the bench to flanker with Cicero starting in the second row. Toye and Benjamin Booth joined Weller on the bench – injuries and unavailability are now becoming something of a problem for Coach Richard Nicholson with 11 first XV squad members now on the sidelines.

It was Selby who largely dominated the first quarter with skipper Duncan Hardy ripping possession from Brodleians and setting up the pressure from which Brodleians were caught offside – Cruise kicked the penalty after 2 minutes. Eight minutes later Brodleians were penalised for pulling down the maul with Cruise once again obliging with the penalty. Selby continued to press with winger Alex Hare nearly in at the corner. More turnover possession by Selby on their own 22 saw centre Alex Arthur go blind side and chip over the Brodleians defence but the move came to nothing. Selby went further in front after 13 minutes after Brodleians were penalised for going over the top – Cruise kicked an excellent 43 metre penalty to put Selby in front by 9 points to nil. Brodleians started to get their game together in the second quarter with Selby guilty of dithering in defence with the result that they lost possession in their own 22 with Brodleians taking full advantage scoring an unconverted try in the corner from their Kiwi centre Sam Deacon. Brodleians were exerting significant pressure on the Selby defence now and after taking their own line out on the Selby 5 metre line in the 38th minute, their Tongan prop Kivalu was mauled over for the try which fly half Danny Wood converted to give Brodleians a 12 points to 9 advantage. Mark Toye then replaced Jason Cicero for Selby but Brodleians took their advantage into the half time break.

Early Brodleians pressure in the second half was relieved with Selby taking a scrum against the head, the first of 3 occasions they were to achieve this feat in a game where Selby more than held their own against a much bigger pack – Brodleians were then penalised for not releasing just inside their own half – once again Cruise kicked an excellent penalty – this time from 45 metres to bring the scores level after 42 minutes. It was then end to end rugby with Selby showing promise but failing to penetrate a solid Brodleians defence. Ben Booth replaced Tom Bell after 57 minutes but his respite was brief after skipper Duncan Hardy had to leave the field only minutes later. It was Brodleians who broke the deadlock on 60 minutes after another 5 metre line out – the catch and drive resulted in flanker Robert Jennings being mauled over the line for an unconverted try. Selby then began to exert more pressure on the Brodleians defence after an excellent break by Cruise but once again, phase after phase of play failed to crack the Brodleians defence. Selby did reduce their deficit after 70 minutes with another Cruise penalty after Brodleians were caught offside but they restored their 5 point advantage after 70 minutes with a Wood penalty after Selby were penalised for going over the top – 20 points to 15 to Brodleians with Cicero back on for Toye. After 80 minutes Selby looked to have won a deserved losing bonus point but 4 minutes into added on time Brodleians were awarded a penalty 35 metres out but directly in front of the posts – Wood calmly slotted the kick – the last action of the game, to give Brodleians the win by 23 points to 15. As a result of this defeat, Selby slip from 7th to 9th place in Yorkshire 1.

Next week Selby have an away fixture and resume hostilities with old adversaries Pontefract – looking at recent form Selby may be seen as favourites but in 21 previous League encounters, Selby have won 9, drawn 2 and lost 10 with a plus point’s difference of only 4, so another close game is in prospect. Kick Off time now reverts to 2.15 P.M. and NOT 3.00 P.M.