Selby 4th XV Match Report

It’s always a pleasure calling in at my local club. Having played here since I was 11 and caught up with friends for more than 30 years, retirement from rugby still feels strange—but seeing Selby RUFC regularly field five senior teams (including a women’s side) shows just how strong the club’s culture remains, built from the micros at age five right through to senior rugby.

Saturdays aren’t only about league tables and first-team rugby. They’re about groups of players—young and old, experienced and brand new—pulling on a shirt together for 80 minutes with one shared goal: to enjoy the game.

Selby 4th XV hosted Maltby RUFC’s development side in a friendly at Sandhill Lane. Usually, a “development” side suggests young players stepping up from colts, but it was clear Maltby arrived as a well-drilled, well-organised unit, warming up with the precision of a national squad. Selby, as ever, were simply delighted to have opposition—something not easy to come by since Covid—and true to form, some lads still arrived ten minutes before kick-off.

Conditions were decent for a damp winter afternoon: low sun, soft ground, and a scattering of supporters around the field.

Selby started brightly, spending a long spell camped in Maltby’s half, putting together phase after phase as they searched for the opening try. But after 13 minutes it was Maltby who broke the deadlock, scoring the first unconverted try.

Selby were never out of the contest; they simply struggled to turn possession and territory into points. The effort and commitment were unquestionable, but a lack of regular game time together—compared with Maltby’s weekly merit-league rugby—showed at key moments.

Maltby crossed for a couple more tries before half-time, despite Selby’s relentless tackling. It felt more like Selby running out of steam than being out-skilled, and the break came with the score at 0–20.

The second half began with a piece of Selby history: Mr Elcock (senior) packing down alongside captain Dan Elcock—the club’s first father-and-son second-row pairing, confirmed by Selby stalwart Copperwheat’s long memory.

The youthful 4th XV started the half with energy and immediately hit back with their only try of the afternoon, using pure pace—some calling it the “Billy Whizz move”—to weave through and around the Maltby defence.

Much like the first half, Selby’s tackling was superb, but Maltby’s ability to retain possession over multiple phases eventually told. A couple of injuries and a short bench didn’t help, and Maltby pulled away to a 7–49 win by the final whistle.

Huge credit, as always, to Tiz for producing pitches fit for rugby even on a winter’s day, and credit to every player involved. The game was played in great spirit, rounded off in true Selby fashion—with a beer or two in the clubhouse and plenty of friendly debate about the referee’s more “creative” decisions.