Selby 2nds (19) versus Wharfedale 3rds (15)

League Leaders Defeated.

Selby 2nd XV continued their impressive start to the season with a hard fought entertaining victory over current league leaders and previously undefeated Wharfedale.

With the customary slow start becoming a problem veteran Jason Cicero returning from an achilles injury was asked to provide the pre kick-off motivational speech. Despite the rallying call Selby were still in the starting blocks when Wharfedale scored the first try, applying pressure through a heavier tight five and some slick passing in the backs sending their winger over untouched at the corner.
For the next ten minutes Selby managed to hold on and somewhat against the run of play Jamie Bingle broke out from the Selby’s 22 and lofted a blind pass out to the wing were Chris McHale gathered and sprinted home to score under the posts. 7 – 7.

With the supporters hopeful that this would galvanise Selby into action they were disappointed when Wharfedale were next to score, but again Selby had the answer with Kev Lamb benefitting from a Scott Hunt break and feed to run in from 15 yards to level the score at half time. 12 -12

The second half started much as the first half had with Wharfedale applying pressure through their heavier pack, and Selby disrupting the play through aggressive rucking and their expansive off-loading game.

Wharfedale nudged ahead through a penalty to take the lead with the score at 12 – 15, and then camped in Selby’s half running down the clock through dogged defence assisted by Selby errors. With 15 minutes left, Selby’s excellent back row turned over the ball again deep in their own half allowing McHale and Scott Hunt to distribute quickly to skipper Clark who slowed the play and fed Joe Shaw on an inside line to split the defence and gallop towards the try line. With the support struggling to keep pace with Joe, and the visitor’s covering defence just pulling him down short of the try line, Selby somehow managed to recycled the ball and move it through more hands on to Dan White to finish an excellent and well worked team try .

It was then Selby’s turn to run down the clock with the experience of Cicero and Copperwheat proving valuable in seeing Selby home.

Next week Selby welcome West Leeds to Sandhill lane, another side who are also currently unbeaten in the league.