Defeat from the jaws of victory

In a sometimes-brutal game that pitted 2 very evenly matched sides together Selby 3rds scored 4 tries, kicked all the extras, 3 penalty's and still came away the losing side in a game that ended in somewhat of a farcical manner.

Selby going into the game on the back of a 4-game winless streak due to the depleted player roster the club currently has. Saturdays squad however, was more than capable of putting up a fight against a well drilled 1st team that have always been a handful home and away. The game started of quite cagey with chances limited. A penalty effort each with Selby managing to dot the ball over thanks to Adam Ross and his impeccable boot led 3-0 after 15 mins.

The game sprung into life in the 15th minute as Selby camped in the Chocolate men's half before a very flat pass to centre Leigh Adamson led to a rushed offload straight into the hands of the gleeful Nestle centre who scorched the length of the field for the opening try. Somehow Daniels missed the conversion which left the score at 3-5. Selby then scored arguably their best try of the season as they moved the ball left and right with Clark, Lanaghan, Spence and Rawson clearing out and securing great ball for the backs to spread wide and the returning Nick Firth to show a clean pair of heels to the opposition winger and score a well worked try. Ross once again pegging the extras.

In keeping with the game Nestle went up the other end and scored another before Spence borrowed over from close range and Ross adding another conversion. Selby then had the chance to further extend the advantage and that man again Ross kicking a perfectly weighted penalty to further increase the score line. Rowntree's looked dangerous on the break and every time they slung it wide it looked positive for them. They lost their experienced hooker late in the 1st half which seemed to hamper the scrum but not their attacking play as they scored another well worked try to bring the scores closer. Stephen Clark who declared himself fit last minute was having a great game as well as the retuning Bren Lanaghan and together with the help of Andrew Wass created great ball for the young half back pairing of Andy Bennett and Scud Adamson. The former with some great tackling around the rucks as the bigger Nestle pack tried to sneak yards. Clarke then scored right on half time as he worked his way under the posts for a clever score which put Selby firmly in control at half time.

The second half saw a mixture of good and bad from Selby as they defended superbly but fitness began to tell and some terrible tackling led to an easy run in for Nestlé's huge centre. Changes were made and a debut for young Jamie Francis from the senior colts on the wing....one to look out for!!

Tom Speddings making his league debut for Selby scored a great try after excellent work by Andrew Wass and another conversion for Adam Ross looked to have put the tie to bed. Back stormed Nestle, who to their credit never gave up and ground Selby down minute by minute. A delightful cross field kick was gathered by the Nestle winger for a cracking score wide out and once again Daniels missed the conversion. Adam Ross who on the other hand didn't miss all day kicked the last of his penalties for the day and the game seemed won. Nestle didn't think so and with 5 left on the clock took the lead after yet more poor tackling allowed them far too much space to exploit.....crucially Daniels finally pegged one over to make the game 37-38 to Nestle and little over 2 minutes to play. Selby gave it everything and Nestle looked like hanging on until a quick tap penalty made its way to Lanaghan on the wing who cut inside and popped to Clark who stretched out to score wide out for the winner.........but no!!......disallowed as the linesman had signalled a boot in touch....somehow??....but with Clark being at least 2 feet away from the line and no markings surely not! Rightly so, the ref backed the Father of the Nestle stand off and the final whistle blew......not a word was said by the Nestle lads other than some apologies. Incensed but subdued Selby formed the tunnel and cheered and clapped the Kit Kat men off the field as they deserved.
Some game, some finish.....some repercussions?? Probably…