A cold and miserable day ended with a miserable result for Selby as they came away from Dinnington with nothing more than frozen extremities to show for their efforts.

Storm Arwen wasn’t in full flow but Dinnington’s exposed and lofty position ensured that a stiff and chilling breeze blew constantly down the pitch – and this combined with the downward slope of the pitch meant that this was always going to be the classic ‘game of two halves’. Selby played against the elements first half and unfortunately didn’t play anywhere near well enough to keep themselves in the game, to not only give themselves a chance of the win but to gain any bonus points as a consolation.

With any form of kicking game off the cards, a prime first half priority for the Swans was to hang onto the ball for as long as possible up to the break, but they were turned over by the burly Dinnington forwards with disappointing regularity and the hosts muscled over for three tries and a 20-0 lead after only twenty minutes. Selby had barely had a feel of the ball until Archie Bennett and Alex Webster managed to break free to take play upfield, and then Selby gave themselves a chance as following some rare sustained possession Webster ran a good inside line to cross for an excellent try and 20-7 with only a few more minutes to half-time. Alas, Selby were unable to see them out, turning possession over cheaply again, which Dinnington used to cross again to make it 27-7 - and surely too much of a gap to hope to make up in the second half.

As it turned out, the second half was a Dinnington masterclass in retaining possession, as they did what Selby had failed to do by hanging onto the ball as if their lives depended on it. With Selby unable to compete, Dinnington marched upfield, benefiting from a number of Selby infringements and the sin-binning of Swans’ Captain Ash Parkinson, for another score and 32-7.

With the game petering out and the warmth of the clubhouse beckoning, Selby’s only consolation for the day seemed to be that their scrummage was dominating the much larger Dinnington pack - until two Dinnington players departed in quick succession, with a red and a yellow card, and Selby suddenly sniffed a chance, if not for the win then for some bonus points at least. With Coach Jay Robinson, a replacement off the bench, putting in a mighty shift of ball carrying Selby crossed twice through Robinson himself, and then Harry Cruise for 32-19, and now only a converted try away from two losing bonus points.

With time running out it was now all Selby, with Dinnington hanging on for the final whistle. Another Robinson charge came very close but he was downed a yard short of the posts, and then right at the death it seemed Robinson had gone the full distance and was over, only for Mr Referee to disagree and blow for time – and a (not undeserved) nil return for the Swans.

Selby are now at home on Saturday with Leodiensian our visitors – and hopefully the weather will be a bit more clement!