NORTH RIBBLESDALE RUFC 17 v 30 SELBY RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson

The omens did not look good for Selby's latest Yorkshire 1 fixture against Ribblesdale: a catalogue of injuries, a long bus journey, poor weather, a side unbeaten at home in the League so far this season and an unconvincing recent away record seemed to suggest a “tough day at the office”. That Selby came away with a remarkable and ultimately convincing victory is testament to the resilience, determination and self-belief of the whole match day squad and reward for the countless hours spent preparing the side by the coaching team.

Things could not have started any worse for the visitors who conceded a try in the very first minute of the game as they lost the ball at the initial breakdown and the home side quickly moved the play to front row forward Matt Spheres who crossed wide out. Mick Thwaite was unsuccessful with the conversion but things looked ominous for the Selby side. Their response to this early set-back was magnificent as the forwards really took the game to their opponents and soon established superiority in all phases of the game. With full back Josh Cruise hitting a tremendous vein of form and subsequently contributing 25 of his team's points, the only shadow of disappointment was that Selby were unable to gain a 4-try bonus point.

Despite having much the better of play for the remainder of the first quarter Selby found it difficult to penetrate the Ribblesdale defence but opened their account after 12 minutes when Cruise struck the first of his 6 successful kicks in a perfect kicking display. After 18 minutes Selby took the lead courtesy of the first of Cruise's 2 tries. Having worked their way into the Ribblesdale half, the forwards claimed a line-out 30 metres from the line and when the ball was moved wide, a dummy, a shimmy and a burst of pace saw Cruise break open the home defence to cross for an excellent individual try. The conversion by the side of the posts was a formality and suddenly the visitors had opened up a 5 point lead.

Ribblesdale then enjoyed their best spell of the game and had the glimmer of a chance just 2 minutes later but the Selby defence held firm and managed to turn the ball over when a score looked most likely. A subsequent penalty for not releasing enabled Selby to clear their lines and avert the immediate danger. Ribblesdale were however not to be denied and drew level after 31 minutes when winger Angus Carr was given the chance to get his name on the scoresheet. Mick Thwaite was again unable to convert and also failed to hit the target after 38 minutes with a penalty which would have seen his side go into the break with their noses in front.

It was Selby who started the second half the brighter of the two sides and regained the initiative after 48 minutes when the Ribblesdale defence was caught offside and Cruise made them pay for their lapse in concentration with his second well struck penalty. Within 10 minutes the home side had responded to this set-back and regained the lead when they set up the position from which Ethan Henare was able to cross for a well worked try. The conversion marked Thwaite's solitary success of the afternoon but gave his team an important 4 point lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The deficit was reduced to 1 point after 61 minutes with Cruise's third penalty and tension mounted as the game moved towards its conclusion and Selby threw everything at the Ribblesdale defence. A try-scoring opportunity on 65 minutes went unrewarded as Centre Iain Adamson's moment of hesitation gave the home defence the chance to cover the danger. However, the relentless pressure eventually told when, with just 4 minutes of normal time remaining and after repeated surges by the dominant Selby forwards, Cruise again broke the Ribblesdale defence to score the try which was to prove the match winner. The straightforward conversion gave Selby a 6 point cushion and as the game moved into injury time the superior fitness of the Selby side began to show as Ribblesdale struggled to match them at both set piece and in open play. It came as no real surprise when Selby gained their final reward in the sixth minute of time added on courtesy of number 8 Martin Protheroe whose powerful surge proved too much for the defence to contain. Cruise's successful conversion was the icing on the cake and gave his team a hugely important and thoroughly deserved 30 -17 winning margin, one which finally broke the sequence of home victories and ensured the Sheep Shearer's Trophy made a welcome return to the Selby Clubhouse.

As part of the post match festivities the Selby players were expected to wear Super Heroes fancy dress costume and, in the light of what happened on the pitch, it seemed a clever and entirely appropriate way to celebrate what will remain a memorable victory for years to come.