NORTHERN DIVISION YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
SCARBOROUGH RUFC 18 – 28 SELBY RUFC

Referee – Mr. Dave Lindsay – South Yorkshire Society

Selby continued their unbeaten run at Scarborough on Saturday, coming out on top in a hard fought encounter by 28 points to 18. Playing against the elements in the first half Selby soon found themselves 6 points in arrears and then trailing by 13 points to 3 after 24 minutes but a an excellent spell of attacking rugby pulled the deficit back to only 13 points to 11 at the interval. In a topsy-turvy second half, Selby pulled away to lead by 18 points to 13 before being pegged back by a determined Scarborough to 18 points apiece. A converted try and a penalty in the last quarter sealed the win for Selby after a half in which they really made hard work of winning the game and should have had more points on the board.

Selby were without backs Sam Weller and Alex Hare with forwards Jason Cicero and Martin Protheroe also unavailable. Ben Booth, Selby’s man of the match in the Shield win at York last week, started at prop with Andrew Pocklington on the bench together with Mark Tanner and Iain Adamson. Skipper Duncan Hardy was back from his trip abroad to start at hooker with Sam Cruise switched to flanker. Matthew Wood started in the second row with Rihi Brown filling the number 8 slot.

With standing water down the middle of the playing area and a howling wind blowing straight down the ground, Scarborough had the benefit of the elements in the first half with Selby taking the kick off. Scarborough’s tactics became immediately apparent with a high kick deep into the Selby defence, a tactic they were to persist with for much of the half. Selby coped well in the opening minutes, retaining possession with their pick and go strategy – however, the conditions dictated that sooner or later an unforced error would occur as it did after 5 minutes, giving the advantage to Scarborough – relentless pressure caught Selby offside with Scarborough fly half Tom Ratcliffe goaling the penalty after 5 minutes. Selby were again penalised after 11 minutes with the same result from Ratcliffe for a 6 points to nil lead to the hosts. On virtually their first incursion into Scarborough territory, Selby, who were largely sticking with their running rugby ethos, reduced their arrears after Scarborough were penalised for a high tackle in front of their posts – Josh Cruise obliged with the penalty after 14 minutes. A further penalty opportunity fell to Scarborough after 19 minutes but Ratcliffe missed the chance to extend his side’s lead. Another high kick deep into the Selby defence after 24 minutes was safely taken but the ball was knocked-on when the ball was offloaded, giving Scarborough a scrum near the Selby try line - the Scarborough forwards drove over the try line with scrum half Zbynek Schutz credited with the touch-down – Ratcliffe kicked the conversion for a 13 points to 3 lead. Mark Tanner replaced Tom Bell at prop at this point. Selby now started to pressurise the Scarborough defence, running the ball at every opportunity. After Scarborough conceded a free kick, converted to a penalty and ten extra metres for talking back after 29 minutes, the Scarborough defence were caught offside with Cruise converting the penalty. It was all Selby now with some excellent forward play, dictated by second row forward and Selby’s man of the match Matthew Wood superbly backed up by the three-quarters with flanker Sam Cruise tackled into touch 5 metres short down the right flank after 34 minutes. More pressure, again down the right flank, after 38 minutes, drew a blank but with the Scarborough defence sucked in on the right flank in added on time, the ball was quickly spread wide to the left for Josh Cruise to offload to winger Charlton McCoy who went over unopposed for the try in the corner – the difficult conversion was missed but Scarborough now only had a narrow 13 points to 11 advantage at the break.

Andrew Pocklington replaced Ben Booth at prop at the start of the second half, with Selby resisting the temptation to over-do the ‘high kicking game’ with their strategy of running rugby paying off after 48 minutes. With their scrum won on the Scarborough 30 metre line, fly half Dan Porter made the incisive break through the hosts defence before offloading to flanker Jacob Robinson who touched down for a try near the posts – Cruise kicked the conversion to give Selby the lead for the first time in the game at 18 points to 13. Selby suffered a blow after 55 minutes after number 8 Rihi Brown was forced to leave the fray through injury and was replaced by the returning Tom Bell – this disrupted the Selby scrum for a short time with Scarborough taking full advantage, their forwards being held up over the Selby try line a minute later – however, the resultant scrum saw their number 8, Matty Else, mauled over the line for a try wide out – no conversion but at 18 points apiece, game on! Selby were straight back on the attack and went back in front after 60 minutes after an excellent tap over the Scarborough defence by scrum half Neil Francis resulted in a Scarborough defender being caught in possession and isolated – the ball was lost with Charlton McCoy hacking the ball on for centre Teihana Brown to touch down for his 16th try of the season – Cruise kicked a magnificent conversion to put Selby in front by 25 points to 18. Scarborough were still causing plenty of problems for the Selby defence with Selby relieved after 63 minutes when Scarborough conceded a penalty on the Selby 5 metre line - Selby were then held up over the Scarborough line after 66 minutes. The match clinching score came after 75 minutes with Scarborough caught offside 35 metres out - Cruise kicked an excellent penalty to put Selby in front by 28 points to 18. Iain Adamson replaced Teihana Brown at centre at this stage with Selby holding out to record a six match unbeaten run in the League and retain their 5th position in Yorkshire 1.

Next week Selby travel to Halifax to take on Old Brodleians, who took the spoils at Sandhill Lane earlier in the season with a 23 points to 15 win. This will be a tough assignment prior to the Yorkshire Shield Semi Final at Sandhill Lane on the 22 February against Scarborough – both games kick off at 2.15 P.M.