NORTHERN DIVISION – YORKSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION 1.

BRIDLINGTON RUFC 8 – 18 SELBY RUFC

REFEREE: MR HANSON HAIGH – WEST YORKSHIRE SOCIETY

Victories at Dukes Park, Bridlington are rare events for Selby with their last recorded League victory (15 points to 5) occurring on 29 September 2007. Hopes were high, particularly after Selby’s disappointing loss to York at Sandhill Lane a couple of weeks ago, that Selby could achieve the double over a Bridlington side who had been beaten by 25 points to 10 at Sandhill Lane earlier in the season. The Selby forward line-up, on paper, looked to be as strong as any which had taken the field in recent seasons with the return of ex skipper Rob Taylor at flanker partnering James Blaymire and Martin Protheroe in the back row.

Bridlington kicked off with the advantage of a gale force wind at their backs on a really heavy pitch and, as expected created severe pressure in the Selby 22 in the first quarter of the match but great defence by the Selby forwards, and in particular second row forward Brendan Lanaghan and prop Robert Bourke kept Bridlington at bay. A clever chip over the Selby defence after 10 minutes nearly saw Bridlington open the scoring but the ball was knocked on close to the try-line. After 19 minutes, Selby went 7 points to nil in front after an excellent counter-attack from deep in defence saw some smart inter-passing down the right flank with winger Ben Lunt, full back Dan Porter and flanker Robert Taylor prominent with the latter providing the try scoring pass to Porter who sailed over for the try under the posts and give fly half Josh Cruise, despite kicking into the wind, the straightforward conversion. Selby had much the upper hand in the set-scrums but their first real concerted pressure of the half after 25 minutes, with the Bridlington scrum going backwards, came to nothing after poor tackling allowed Bridlington to clear their lines and gain 70 metres. Bridlington reduced their arrears after 33 minutes when Selby were penalised for an accidental trip with fly half Tom Kemp kicking the penalty. Only 3 minutes later they took the lead after 3 missed tackles allowed their centre Gareth Roberts to touch down for the try in the corner – Kemp missed the conversion but Bridlington were in front by 8 points to 7. It was Bridlington who had the upper hand shortly before half time with three 5 metre scrums in quick succession but stout Selby defending prevented any further score with Bridlington going into the break with a slender 1 point advantage – an advantage which didn’t seem enough with Selby having the gale force wind at their backs in the second half.

Selby had a dream start to the second half after the Bridlington defence knocked on from the Selby kick-off. The Selby forwards took charge from the resultant scrum before the ball was spread wide for Cruise and second row forward James Coventry to put winger Nathan Spencer over for the try in the corner – no conversion but Selby were back in front by 12 points to 8. Selby continued to apply the pressure putting up some towering kicks into the Bridlington defence but the catching by their defenders was generally exemplary but the important factor was that Selby continued to pin Bridlington into their own 22. Selby increased their lead on 57 minutes after Bridlington were penalised for offside with Cruise kicking a really excellent penalty, via the cross-bar from fully 49 metres. Bridlington’s only real pressure of the half came after 64 minutes but, after some excellent defending, Selby turned over possession with Porter clearing Selby’s lines with a magnificent kick to touch on the Bridlington 20 metre line. More Selby pressure 2 minutes later saw prop Duncan Hardy held up over the try line – from the resultant 5 metre scrum, Selby were nearly in again but knocked on inches from the try line. The Selby scrum was now rampant pushing their counter-parts fully 30 metres and gaining a penalty for a scrum offence after 74 minutes but Cruise pushed the penalty attempt to the left of the upright. However, he made amends 2 minutes later when Bridlington were caught offside to the right of their posts to give Selby an 18 points to 8 lead. Another huge drive from the Selby forwards after a successful line-out on the Bridlington 30 metre line in the final minutes nearly brought Selby further reward but the game ended with a richly deserved 18 points to 8 win for Selby.

This was, probably, Selby’s best forward display for some time and but for a hugely impressive display from the Bridlington number 8 James Thompson, they should surely have won by a far greater margin.

Next Saturday, Selby entertain the current and unbeaten League leaders, Doncaster Phoenix to Sandhill Lane – can Selby be the first team to inflict a defeat on them?? On this performance they may have every chance.