SELBY RUFC 11 v 13 NORTH RIBBLESDALE RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson

A couple of lapses in concentration and a moment of indiscipline were ultimately what cost Selby the chance of victory in a tense and closely fought encounter against friendly rivals North Ribblesdale.

Playing with a stiff breeze at their backs, the visitors soon took command of both possession and territory and had their first scoring opportunity with just 3 minutes gone when Selby were penalised for joining a ruck from the side. Centre Alex Naylor was unable to accurately judge the strength of the wind and fortunately for the home side the ball drifted wide of the target. Undaunted, the Ribblesdale forwards maintained their stranglehold on the game and it is much to Selby's credit that the visitors were unable to fashion any further scoring opportunities in the opening quarter of the match.

When Selby did eventually establish a foothold in the Ribblesdale half they set up a good scoring chance for themselves on 21 minutes following a clean line-out take on the Ribblesdale 5 metre line. A try certainly looked on the cards until referee Gavin Pender spotted an infringement by the Selby forwards and awarded Ribblesdale a penalty which allowed them to clear the immediate danger. A charged down kick just 5 minutes later presented the Home side with another half chance but Ribblesdale's scramble defence proved enough to snuff out the break. When the visitors were penalised in the 28th minute for not rolling away at the tackle, Selby had their first kick at goal but Josh Cruise saw his effort drift wide of the left hand upright and the deadlock remained. Ribblesdale almost made the breakthrough after 37 minutes but a last ditch cover tackle by the corner flag ensured that the sides went into the half time break all square and without registering a single point.

With the advantage of the breeze Selby were hopeful of taking command of the game and things certainly started that way when a mix up in the Ribblesdale defence gifted the ball to Selby who swiftly moved the ball wide to centre Peter Turner who galloped over for a try at the corner. Although Cruise was unable to add the conversion Selby had made the ideal start to the second half and their supporters were optimistic that they would continue to hold the upper hand. However the Ribblesdale forwards had other ideas and again established superiority in broken field play, repeatedly driving at the heart of the Selby defence and testing the resolve of the entire home side. Drive after drive hammered away at the Selby line and it seemed only a matter of time before the cracks would start to show but backs and forwards alike defended heroically and after soaking up tremendous pressure Selby eventually turned possession over right on their own try line. Cruise had the chance to clear his lines but his kick to touch fell short and the Ribblesdale backs somehow created space for full back Adam Waites to cross for a try wide on the left. The conversion was missed but the game was turned on its head immediately from the re-start when Cruise's kick-off sailed directly in to touch, giving the visitors the option of an attacking scrum on half way. A quick heel and a break down the blind side tore open the Selby defence and within no time at all Ribblesdale had snatched the lead when number 8 Michael Carr was bundled over for a second unconverted try.

Despite struggling for possession Selby always looked dangerous on the counter attack and a couple of brief incursions into the Ribblesdale half were enough for the home team to force their way back into the lead with the visitors penalised twice in quick succession and Cruise hitting two sweet kicks at goal to give Selby the slenderest of leads at 11-10. Disaster struck for Selby with the very last play of the game when they were judged to have deliberately thrown the ball into touch and referee Pender awarded the visitors a penalty just inside the Selby 22. An excellent, nerveless kick into the breeze by replacement Stephen Moon was greeted with roars of approval from his team mates and visiting supporters, relieved to have secured the victory that will almost certainly ensure that the Dalesmen maintain their place in Yorkshire 1 for the 2015-16 season.