A tale of two halfs

A much changed Selby 3rds took to the field against a similar changed York side with both teams obviously feeling the effects of the Rugby World cup arriving at Elland Road.

Selby started well and with Joe Clements starting at 10 and doing very well with his distribution the signs looked positive from the start. Moving the ball left and right very well, Selby's back line looked to have the edge but the final pass either went astray or was spilled as the line beckoned. York on the other hand had limited chances but when the gap appeared they finished with power and accuracy to get the first score on the board. This was to be the pattern throughout the first half as Selby's forwards set the platform with some great defence and good ball retention without actually doing a great deal with it.

Adam Calvert picked a perfect line, and did back himself crashing over the line for a score his personal efforts deserved. This closed the gap to one score but the half closed out with Selby yet again spurning the chance to score after some superb work from the ever improving Tom O'Neill.

The half time talk was brisk as Referee Brown seemed to not require as much hydration as the two teams but the call from Captain Rawlins was to work harder to secure the ball, put the tackles in and back yourself if a gap appeared!

The second have started well with some good work from the backs with ball in hand but sadly York clicked into 2 gear and ran in 3 quick unanswered try's with would be tacklers falling off the York players far too easy. As is now becoming the norm Paul North scored from a good driving maul with one of Selby's only forays into the York half and with Adam Ross tagging the extra's it made the score line somewhat more respectable. York spurred on by this came back and grabbed another couple of scores to rub salt into the Selby wounds and with Jason Goodwin sent to the bin for explaining the rules to Mr Brown in a polite fashion Selby found themselves down to 14.

Tom O'Neill had the last word running through the York backline, he seemed to want the ref to blow up for an infringement but when he didn't he turned and burned in devastating fashion to score a well deserved try for himself.

All in all a "bad day at the office" but with a mixed side thrown together Selby shouldn't be too downhearted. Some personal positives throughout the afternoon saw Loz White make his season debut, Joe Clements play confidently at 10, Tom O'Neill finally score a try, Tony Godfrey make a welcome return and Billy "Blaze" Blaymire having a very strong game.

Selby travel to Wath next week which will be another test of Rawlins boys.