NORTHERN DIVISION - YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.
SELBY RUFC 39 – 31 PONTEFRACT RUFC

Referee – Mr. Jim Saunders – East Yorkshire Society

Games between Selby and Pontefract have always been close affairs and despite the difference in their respective League positions, this game was no different and with both sides experiencing heavy defeats last Saturday, it was never going to be a ‘stroll in the park’ for Selby. For the neutral it must have provided 80 minutes of excitement but for both sets of supporters, it was ‘edge of the seat’ stuff throughout. Pontefract, for the only time in the match, were in front after 5 minutes, but in a see-saw first half, Selby went into the break with a slender 24 points to 19 advantage. Despite building a 10 point lead on two occasions in the second half, Selby could never quite shake off the threat posed by the excellent Pontefract backs and their support play, but eventually ran out winners by 39 points to 31 in a game where both sides were guilty of lax defending and tackling.

Selby were without Teihana Brown at centre who has returned to his native New Zealand. A host of other regular 1st XV regulars were also missing. Sam Weller was unfit with Alex Arthur recalled at centre to partner Iain Adamson who replaced Teihana Brown. With Dan Porter also unfit, Josh Cruise reverted to fly half with Ben Lunt dropping to fill the full back berth. Second team skipper, Kevin Lamb started on the wing in place of Lunt. In the forwards, Sam Cruise was also unfit with skipper Duncan Hardy starting at hooker with Tom Bell and Ben Booth propping. Jason Cicero was recalled to the second row. Back row forward Matthew Wood, although selected, sustained a training ground injury on Thursday evening with Duncan Phillips recalled to the starting line-up. Jacob Robinson was back at flanker with Martin Protheroe at number 8. Andrew Pocklington, Sam Broughton and Charlie Cicero made up the bench.

After kicking off to the railway end, Selby had the chance to take the lead in the 1st minute when Pontefract were penalised for not releasing in the tackle but a very kickable penalty went wide from the boot of Josh Cruise. Then, completely against the run of play, Pontefract went in front with centre Chris Sant going over wide out after a quick tap penalty by Pontefract on the Selby 20 metre line – fly half Glenn Boyd missed the conversion but Pontefract had an early 5 points to nil lead after 5 minutes. Selby were quick to reply only 4 minutes later after a magnificent run by Martin Protheroe who brushed aside a handful of defenders before touching down near the posts – Cruise converted to put Selby in front by 7 points to 5. An optimistic penalty attempt from Cruise after 20 minutes fell short but he made amends 2 minutes later after an excellent Selby take from their own line-out found Cruise who exploited a gap in the Pontefract defence to touch down near the posts – Cruise’s conversion put Selby in front by 14 points to 5. Some great runs by Alex Arthur and Charlton McCoy came to nothing with play end to end – McCoy then made a tremendous try-saving tackle but Pontefract did reduce their arrears after 26 minutes after a disastrous long throw at a Selby line-out found fly half Boyd who strolled over for the try – the successful conversion from the same player pulled Pontefract back to only 14 points to 12 in arrears. Three minutes later Pontefract’s Matt Williams was yellow carded for a high tackle in front of his own posts – the resultant penalty was converted by Cruise with Selby going even further in front after 32 minutes with the best try of the match after some superb attacking rugby from Selby, flanker Jacob Robinson being the recipient of the try near the posts – with Cruise converting, Selby were now in front by 24 points to 12. Shortly before the break Andrew Pocklington replaced Ben Booth at prop but once again Selby conceded on the stroke of half time with Pontefract flanker, Joe Perkins, over for the try which Boyd successfully converted giving Selby a slender 24 points to 19 advantage at half time.

Pontefract, after threatening to score straight from the kick off, fell further behind after another excellent run from Protheroe came to nothing – however the ball was re-cycled to winger Kevin Lamb who went over for a richly deserved try which Cruise failed to convert but Selby had a 10 point advantage at 29 points to 19. Once again, Pontefract fought back, and after the second lost line out from a Selby throw, Craig Fawcett went over for another try for Pontefract which Boyd converted to put the visitors within 3 points of Selby. Sam Broughton now replaced Duncan Phillips and after 58 minutes Selby regained their 10 points advantage after excellent work by Broughton and McCoy gave Protheroe the opportunity to make another superb break through the Pontefract defence to touch down near the posts – Cruise converted for a 36 points to 26 lead for Selby. Charlie Cicero replaced Tom Bell after 68 minutes with Selby threatening to score again after 71 minutes after a series of penalties kicked to the Pontefract 5 metre line – but the Selby ‘catch and drive’ failed to bring any reward in terms of a try but with the ball spread wide Pontefract were caught offside – with the referee playing advantage and a certain 3 points in the offing, fly half Josh Cruise calmly slotted a drop goal to put Selby in front by 39 points to 26 with 7 minutes of normal time remaining. But still the match ebbed and flowed with Pontefract once more threatening to score after 77 minutes - their pressure finally told a minute later with Craig Fawcett going over for his second try – Andy Dean failed to convert which would, as things turned out, have earned Pontefract a second bonus point – Ben Booth was now back on for Pocklington for the last couple of minutes of the game with Selby holding on for a precious bonus point win which, courtesy of Wath On Dearne’s home defeat to Dinnington, takes Selby up to 4th place in Yorkshire 1. Selby’s man of the match award went to second row forward Tom Cobley who seems to get better with every game he plays.

Hopefully, Selby will have learned from this game and the defeat at Old Brodleians, that they will have to tighten up defensively for the rest of the season, if they are to progress to the Yorkshire Shield Final and enjoy a top-four finish in Yorkshire 1.

Next Saturday, Selby travel up the A19 to participate in another ‘local derby’ when they take on York before returning to Sandhill Lane the week after when they are scheduled to play Scarborough in the Semi Final of the Yorkshire Shield – both games Kick Off at 3 P.M.