NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
WATH UPON DEARNE RUFC 10 – 47 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. Mike Ramsden – North Yorkshire & Cleveland Society

Selby carried on in 2014 from where they left off in their last game of 2013 when they beat the then League leaders Doncaster Phoenix at Sandhill Lane on 14 December in a sparkling display by 25 points to 15. If anything, this was an even more convincing win against opponents who they had yet to beat in a League fixture. In atrocious conditions Selby took an 18 points to 3 lead by the 33rd minute but were pegged back at the break to lead by 18 points to 10. After only 9 minutes of the second half, Selby had extended their lead to 35 points to 10 and ran out deserving winners in the end by 47 points to 10 in a game where their tactics, determination and team-work had been almost perfect in the prevailing conditions.

Selby, who were still without a handful of players missing with long term injuries, largely stuck with the team who had so convincingly accounted for Doncaster Phoenix in December, the only change being the return of Josh Cruise after a lengthy injury lay-off who started at full back with Dan Porter retaining the fly half berth.

On a sodden pitch and in persistent rain, Wath took the kick off with both sides trying to exploit the conditions by kicking deep into their opponents half but it was Selby who were to profit after 6 minutes when a mistake in the Wath defence allowed Selby centre Teihana Brown to win the race for the touchdown – Dan Porter failed with the conversion. Selby extended their lead 5 minutes later when Wath were penalised for not releasing, Josh Cruise obliging with the penalty to give Selby an 8 points to nil lead. Wath reduced their arrears after 20 minutes when Selby were caught offside – fly half Andrew Appleyard kicking the penalty. Only 3 minutes later and Selby went further in front after an excellent move by the backs found Josh Cruise with a 2 man overlap on his outside but instead of using the overlap he dummied, cut back inside and offloaded to the rampaging number 8, Martin Protheroe, who went over for the try under the posts – Cruise kicked the conversion to put Selby in front by 15 points to 3. A long kick through the Wath defence after 33 minutes was gathered by the Wath full back but over eagerness on the part of young Charlton McCoy in not allowing the full back to get up resulted in a penalty for Wath – however some sort of skulduggery by the Wath number 8, Andy Beardsall, resulted in a yellow card for him and a reversal of the original penalty decision – Cruise converted to increase Selby’s advantage to 18 points to 3. With Alex Oliver now on for Rihi Brown 2 minutes later, Selby now had to do some defending and were down to 14 after prop Andrew Pocklington was yellow carded for a technical offence after 38 minutes – two minutes later substitute prop Tom Bell replaced Alex Oliver. Wath’s pressure told in the first minute of added on time after a successful line-out on the Selby 10 metre line – the ball was spread to mid-pitch where the Wath forwards were successful in mauling their prop, Brendan Angell over the line and under the posts for a try converted by Appleyard. The half time interval arrived with Selby in front by 18 points to 10 and all to play for in the second half.

Alex Arthur replaced centre Sam Weller at the start of the second half. With the persistent rain now easing, Selby had a dream start to the half with Josh Cruise kicking a penalty in the very first minute. Only a minute later, Selby’s lead was extended to 28 points to 10, after Selby’s man of the match Charlton McCoy made excellent progress down the left flank before offloading to Dan Porter who went over for the try converted by Cruise. Selby were back to full strength after 43 minutes with Pocklington having served his spell in the bin but was replaced by the returning Rihi Brown. Another spectacular run by the speedy Charlton McCoy down the left flank resulted in Teihana Brown’s second try after 49 minutes with Cruise once again converting and Selby just about assured of a bonus point win leading by 35 points to 10. Alex Oliver now came on in place of a tiring Jason Cicero who had never looked out of place at this level of rugby and, as always, had played an outstanding part in the loose and set-piece. A missed penalty by Cruise after 54 minutes was soon forgotten two minutes later with the ball spread wide by the backs for Protheroe to score his second try – no conversion but Selby now had an unassailable 40 points to 10 lead. Andrew Pocklington replaced skipper Duncan Hardy at prop after 60 minutes. Selby looked likely to increase their lead 6 minutes later after another excellent run down the right flank by McCoy but a foot in touch negated what would have been a well-deserved try. 40 points to 10 looked to be the final score but deep into added on time, Selby scored their sixth try with a typical individual Dan Porter effort who went over in the corner after a marvellous run – Cruise put the icing on the cake with a superb conversion from the touchline to give Selby a 47 points to 10 victory.

This was a stunning victory for Selby whose forwards more than matched their bigger opponents, both in the loose and set-piece and defended magnificently when they had to. Some excellent handling and backing up by the three-quarters gave the Wath defence little time to counter-attack with both the excellent kicking of Josh Cruise and Dan Porter, deep into the Wath defence, being decisive.

Selby move up a place to 7th in Yorkshire 1 only 5 points behind 4th placed York. Next Saturday, Selby entertain Keighley at Sandhill Lane Kick Off 2.15 P.M. Despite their lowly position in the League, Keighley are a side who should not be under-estimated with Selby needing to maintain the momentum gained with their excellent displays in their wins over Doncaster Phoenix and Wath Upon Dearne.