Selby 3rds V Castleford 2nds

Selby 3rd's travelled the short distance to Castleford to play their 2nds in what is always a feisty encounter and this proved no different as a once again changed side due to call offs and late call ups took on what was possibly the largest set of forwards they will ever play! Losing Dan White and Sam Duffy to the 2nds didn't help matters and also left Selby short of line out jumpers but with quick organisation and a quick run through Paul North was happy with what he had to work with.

Selby started brightly and the tactic of running the (bigger framed) forwards around the park seemingly working, Christian Townend crashed over the line for a deserved score. Leigh Adamson slotting through the posts with an excellent conversion. Castleford then got their game up and running and it was a tactic that Selby struggled to cope with. Phase after phase of huge forwards barrelling at the Selby players and drawing more and more in as cover, Castleford finally utilised the ball to a strong running centre and but for a fumble he had a clear run to the line. The resultant scrum was turned over with ease which sadly was the pattern that would follow the rest of the game. The huge number 8 picked from the base of the scrum, Calvert and Rawson managing to floor him short but the Cas forwards cleared everything out and they dived over the line from a meter to score. The conversion was missed from close to the posts. Cas then set about the same tactic as they over and over again with Selby having to put in a great deal of work around the park to stop them increasing their lead. Eventually a missed tackle proved costly as their centre managed to evade the Selby backs for the first time and the wispy 10 supporting him had a clear run in. Castleford made some changes bringing some of their substitutes on very early in the game and they increased the fitness and ability to cover in defence. A turnover at a scrum nearly led to a well worked Castleford score with the Fullback kicking through after Aidan Pearce had come into the line to cover and overlap but Rawson had covered back and managed to knock the ball out of the 15's hands as he was heading for the line. Castleford then had another sustained attack on the Selby line with the centre finally going over for a score to increase the lead, the extras knocked over to even better it. Selby had the chance to cut the deficit but some confusion whilst attacking and some hurried play led to a mistake and the half time whistle.

Second half was a completely different game as Selby put some great phases of play together and had it not been for the superior weight advantage in the forwards and an extra few minutes Selby might well have left victorious. The half started dreadfully as from the kick off Tom O'Neill try to clear from deep only managing to spoon his clearance into the gleeful centres hands who offloaded for a score under the sticks. Selby took control of the game as Castleford began to tire and with 20 Mins to play Paul north grabbed his customary score as he took his season tally to 5, Adamson slotting the extras. The home team seemed to self detonate and at one stage it seemed like they would possibly loose a couple of players to the bin as the late shots, high tackles and some naughty stuff crept into their game. Carl Goodhead in particular was on the end of a few nasty blows and new boy Sam Toolan getting a welcome to Cas tackle on his away debut!

Tom O'Neil scored the try of the day as Selby recycled through the phases and then quick hands in the backs and a perfectly timed pass from Pearce saw him pin back his ears for a great team try. Adamson again knocking over the extras with his kicking looking back to its best. Sadly as Selby knocked on the door Cas were able to repel the attacks and clear deep whilst time ebbed away for a gutsy win but had Selby had an extra few minutes who knows what might have been!

Man of the match was Aidan Pearce for an all round display.