A Close-Fought Home Derby for the 2s

Saturday brought old rivals Goole 2nd team to Selby for the first of two encounters this season. Goole have had a resurgence over the last few years and credit to the club back room staff and volunteers writes Paul Gabel.

Game day weather was perfect for a local derby and in complete contrast to the two previous days. Constant rain in the whole area, from a violent storm in the North of Scotland resulting in Goole having to call off the 3rd team fixture at Goole due to a waterlogged pitch and no time to switch to Selby’s ground.

With both teams having a full compliment of players and ample finishers, the scene was set for a good game that would go one of two ways. A white wash by one team or down to last play to clinch a win. Following a minutes silence after Goole lost one of its members, battle would commence.

From the kick off, Selby and Goole played the forwards game. Selby taking the game to Goole and vice versa when ball in hand. Strong running and plenty of passion in the tackle area and breakdown showed that this was going to be no push over. To add, the atmosphere on the side lines and in the crowd proved it was going to be an entertaining afternoon, with many of the 3rd team coming to support the 2nd team and have a pint or two from the bar.

The ball passed from one team to the other time often and heavily contested at the rooks, noticeably Jack Todd focusing on going passed the ball to allow Selby turn over ball with Selby forwards at the ready to counter attack with positive carries from all involved to keep momentum. It was a great forwards effort all afternoon, special mention to Matthew Harrison, who has had a summer of playing rugby league and it showed in his power and go forward through the tackles.

Selby forwards created the possession and field position the allow young Charlie Bramley to go ver to score Selby’s first try outside making the score 5-0. On the restart, Selby made several errors and allowed a quick try from Goole to even up the score to 5-5 with no conversion. Although, Selby were the better side, such simple mistakes gave the Goole side the lift they needed. This game was on. Although, it had claimed it’s first forced substitution on the 9th minute mark, with Sudron coming off the field of play, not to return.

As the battle for the ball continued with Goole trying to bash their way through the middle but continually hitting a brick wall in Case, Bell, Elcock, Campbell to name a few and when Selby had possession, they wanted to play out wide after a couple of phases and this started to find the weakness of the Goole side. Again, with Selby errors in play it allowed Goole to take control, eventually scoring around the 30th minute, giving Goole a 10-5 lead into the second half.

Roles were reversed with the restart for the second half and Goole making handling errors this time, allowing Selby to even up the scores 10-10 with an impressive phase of play ending with a well worked try by Henry Dennis. At this stage the Selby backs were able to capitalise on the fatigue of the Goole side, time and time again probing on the outside and if it was not for the chance of the Goole backs last minute tackle or the failed last pass by Selby. The scores remained tight into the last quarter.

During the last 15 minutes and a long period of stop start. The game did start to open up with Selby working hard as a team in the Goole half. At this stage the game could have gone either way but Selby were playing the expansive game with the backs, under the control of Blackwell were able to punch holes in the Goole defence resulting in a 72nd minute try by Hodder and converted by Oliver Parsonage making the final score 17-10 at the final whistle.

It is fitting at this stage of the season to say thank you to the Selby coaching staff, who have been able to provide spectator rugby and a club culture that has not been around the Selby changing rooms for a few years now and I personally are glad to be apart of. To see the ‘old boys’ in players such as Ian Copperwheat mixing with the young players, such as Oliver Parsonage, is a great testament to the club as a whole and long May it continue in this the 90th year of Selby RUFC.