NORTHERN DIVISION - YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
SELBY RUFC 25 – 15 DONCASTER PHOENIX RUFC

Referee – Mr. Brian Mulligan – Central Yorkshire Society

Selby saved their best performance of the season to date for the visit to Sandhill Lane of old adversaries and League leaders, Doncaster Phoenix. Both individually and as a team this was a magnificent display against a very good Phoenix side. After repelling all Phoenix could throw at them in the first 10 minutes of the game, Selby gradually took control of the game and took an 8 points to 3 lead into the half time break. With Phoenix down to 14 men after 47 minutes Selby increased their lead to 22 points to 3 and despite a late Phoenix fight-back, a drop goal in added on time ensured a Selby victory by 25 points to 15 denying Phoenix a losing bonus point.

Selby had the luxury of starting with their selected XV with skipper Duncan Hardy back at prop. The experienced Jason Cicero was recalled to the second row in place of Brendan Lanaghan, injured in the narrow defeat at Dinnington last Saturday. Sam Weller also returned to the side at centre. Tom Bell, Alex Oliver and Alex Arthur made up the bench.

Phoenix kicked off to the Leeds Road end with the advantage of a substantial wind at their backs with Selby having to do some serious defending to repel some ‘big hits’ from the Phoenix forwards in the first 10 minutes of the half but took the lead after 14 minutes after Phoenix were caught offside in front of their posts – Dan Porter obliged with the penalty. A mistake in the Selby defence after 23 minutes gave Phoenix a threatening attacking position on the 10 metre line but great work in the loose by the Selby forwards negated the threat and 3 minutes later Selby increased their lead after a successful scrum on the Phoenix 20 metre line saw fly half Porter offloading to winger Charlton McCoy who jinked his way over the line for an excellent try – no conversion into the wind but Selby had a handy 8 points to nil lead against the elements. Phoenix did reduce their arrears after 30 minutes when Selby were penalised for going over the top – fly half Dan Storey kicked the penalty. Selby should have increased their lead 5 minutes later after an excellent move down the right flank should have brought a try with winger Alex Hare creating the overlap but the final pass went astray. Half time arrived with Selby in front by 8 points to 3 after displaying some fine skills and determination in a half in which they were the better side.

Selby very nearly had the perfect start to the second half when the Phoenix full back fumbled the Selby re-start – flanker Rihi Brown gathered the ball and very nearly managed to force his way over the try line – the try was still on but after another 3 phases of play an unforced error let Phoenix off the hook. Phoenix were down to 14 after 46 minutes when their second row forward Dan Smith was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card after a long lecture from the referee. Selby took immediate advantage after Selby winger Alex Hare intercepted a Phoenix pass on the half way line, leaving the Phoenix defence for dead as he sprinted over the line for a try under the posts giving Porter an easy conversion and Selby a 15 points to 3 lead. It was all Selby now with Porter pinning Phoenix back in their own 22 with some excellent kicks to touch and after some great work by centre Teihana Brown, Selby hooker Sam Cruise, who gets better with every game, showed a remarkable turn of speed with a diagonal run to the line to touch down in the corner – Porter kicked an excellent conversion from the touch line to give Selby a 22 points to 3 advantage. Dan Smith was back on after 61 minutes after his yellow card with Selby making substitutions after 65 and 69 minutes, Alex Oliver replacing Martin Protheroe and Alex Arthur on for Teihana Brown. Phoenix are too good a side to ‘just lie down’ and they were right back in the game after 71 minutes with Dan Storey over for a try under the posts which he improved himself – 22 points to 10 for Selby. Another double substitution by Selby followed immediately with Protheroe back on for the magnificent Jason Cicero and Tom Bell on at prop in place of skipper Hardy. With both sides tiring after a pulsating game, Phoenix were playing much better pressurising the Selby defence but some determined defending repelled all that Phoenix could throw at them but Phoenix did manage to get over the line after 80 minutes with Ryan Peacey mauled over the line for an unconverted try with Phoenix now only a score behind Selby and with considerable added-on-time to play after some significant second half stoppages. Duncan Hardy was now back on for Andrew Pocklington at prop. More Phoenix pressure was repelled before Selby made inroads into the Phoenix defence after another excellent break by Sam Cruise. A knock on by Phoenix on their 10 metre line gave Selby a scrum under the posts on 84 minutes – the scrum was won with Neil Francis feeding Porter who coolly dropped the goal that would give Selby a richly deserved win and deny Phoenix a losing bonus point. There were no further alarms for Selby in the remaining 3 minutes of play, the referee’s whistle signalling wild scenes of celebration from the large contingent of Selby supporters.

Despite this win Selby remain in 8th place in Yorkshire 1and with the return of injured and unavailable players in the New Year, 2014 could see Selby climb into the top half of the League.

Selby’s next League action takes place on Saturday 4 January when they travel to take on Wath Upon Dearne before hosting Keighley at Sandhill Lane the week after.