NORTHERN DIVISION - YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
SELBY RUFC 0 – 0 ILKLEY RFC

Referee – Mr. John Wolstenhome – South Yorkshire Society

Without doubt, this was the match of the day in Yorkshire 1, with visitors Ilkley coming to Sandhill Lane with the meanest defence in the League and, prior to the game, Selby with the joint best attack. Something had to give, but monsoon like rain of biblical proportions 15 minutes before kick off and lasting 30 minutes into the first half, conspired to ensure that anything resembling real running rugby would be almost impossible. However, both sets of supporters were treated to an ‘edge of the seat’ encounter with Ilkley having the best two opportunities to put points on the board but fly half Josh Kimber missed, what would have been straightforward penalty chances in normal conditions, but the state of the muddy pitch made any penalty kick a very challenging ask – even so, Kimber’s second attempt in the 64th minute agonisingly hit the upright and bounced back into play – had the kick gone over it would probably have been enough to win the game for Ilkley. As it was the match ended all square at nil points apiece which, taking everything into consideration, was probably a fair result.

With skipper Duncan Hardy unavailable Andrew Pocklington started at prop, the only other changes from the team that won at Heath last Saturday being the inclusion of flanker Jacob Robinson and the return, after 8 weeks on the sidelines, of Matthew Wood at number 8. Martin Protheroe started on the bench together with front row replacement Mark Tanner and young Charlton McCoy.

The very early pressure belonged to Ilkley, who had kicked off to the Leeds Road end with the advantage of the elements, and they had the first chance to open the scoring after only 3 minutes when Selby were penalised for coming in at the side but fly half Josh Kimber pushed the penalty attempt wide. The next few minutes saw Ilkley trying to pin Selby back in their own 22 with long kicks into the Selby defence, but all too often the ball crossed the Selby try line and was touched down for a 22 drop out or went dead – Selby’s man of the match, fly half Dan Porter, was also instrumental in clearing out of defence with some telling kicks to touch deep into Ilkley territory. Selby then had their best spell of the game with Porter offloading to winger Alex Hare after 14 minutes only for Hare to be tackled into touch 5 metres short. Selby then made their first substitution with Martin Protheroe replacing the injured flanker Jacob Robinson. More excellent back play, considering the conditions, created constant pressure for the Ilkley defence, but all too often the over enthusiastic Selby attack found themselves penalised by the referee, allowing Ilkley to clear their lines. More pressure by the Selby backs came to nothing when they were penalised for not releasing on the Ilkley 5 metre line after 21 minutes. Apart from the opening minutes of the half, Ilkley had spent little time in the Selby half, but they started to pressurise the Selby defence after 33 minutes and looked likely to open the scoring with a try 4 minutes later but a magnificent try saving tackle, one metre short of the try line by flanker Rihi Brown, saved the day for Selby – from the resultant line-out, Ilkley started to steam-roller the Selby defence and were adjudged to be held up over the Selby try line – the Ilkley 5 metre scrum powered towards the Selby line and once again their forwards were held up over the line – with no time for another scrum, the referee blew for the half time break with both teams hurrying to the comparative warmth of their dressing rooms.

The second half started in bright sunshine but with an even colder wind with the pattern of the game in very much the same mould as the first half had been but with Ilkley having the lion’s share of possession and looking marginally the better side. Charlton McCoy replaced Ben Lunt on the wing after 45 minutes making an instant impact 3 minutes later after an excellent run into the Ilkley defence but neither side, despite increasing pressure from Ilkley, really looked like scoring at this stage – an excellent break by Protheroe after 56 minutes came to nothing. A scrum infringement by Selby after 64 minutes gave Ilkley an opportunity to perhaps win the match but Josh Kimber’s penalty attempt hit the upright and bounced back into play and was cleared by a grateful Selby defence. Two minutes later, Selby made their final substitution with Mark Tanner replacing hooker Sam Cruise, who it appeared after the game, was suffering from some sort of exposure as a result of the conditions. Selby’s best chance to win the game came after 73 minutes after Porter kicked over the Ilkley defence with the Ilkley full back caught in possession on the try line by Protheroe but, once again, Selby were penalised by the referee and to ‘add insult to injury’ forfeited another 10 metres for ‘back chatting’ the referee. More pressure by Ilkley failed to crack the Selby defence and the match finished in stalemate at nil points apiece – the first occasion in League rugby that Selby have ever experienced a nil, nil score line.

Despite the score line, all 36 players, referee and touch judges should be congratulated for providing a titanic encounter in front of a bumper crowd at Sandhill Lane. This result means that Selby drop to 5th in Yorkshire 1 with Wath Upon Dearne moving up to 4th after their win at York. Selby’s next League fixture takes place on 8 February when they travel to take on Scarborough. Weather permitting, they will play their Yorkshire Shield Quarter Final at York this Tuesday evening Kick Off 1930 or 2000 hours (TBC).