Selby Festival

Match Report:
The day started a little misty but soon brightened up. With Selby under 10’s having a reasonably large squad we fielded 2 teams in the home showcase of the season. With Selby having played most of the opposition earlier in the season the teams knew this was going to be one very tough day.

Pool 1
Game 1 Selby A v Goole
Selby first opponents was against Goole having played them earlier in the season the team knew they were much bigger physically then any of the Selby players put together. Unfortunately Selby lost a player due to injury in the first minute when trying to tackle a Goole player, which delayed the game for a little while but thankfully Zak Cicero is fine albeit dazed from the encounter. Once play resumed Selby worked hard and did produce some flowing passes between Tom Scholefield, Ben Abrams and Eddie Liddle. The rucks were well contested by Nick Clark, Jack Rioden and Harry Barlow. Selby’s nearest try came from a break from Tom Scholefield who tried to zigzag himself through their defence to no avail. Goole’s closest came from a short sprint down the flank but was tackled into touch in the last play of the game. With 90% of the game played in the middle third of the pitch the game ended in a close contested 0-0 draw.
Full time Selby-A 0 - Goole 0

Game 2 Selby A v Dinnington
Selby’s second opponents were Dinnington who again they have played and lost to earlier in the season. Dinnington who are of similar size and speed to Selby knew this was going to be another close game. The game started with some good passes from Tom Scholefield, Jack Roiden and Ben Hudson who ran across the pitch making some progress down the pitch before being tackled. Lauren McDermott picked up a loose ball and made a good pass to Jack Rioden and onto Tom Scholfield before being tackled and losing the ball. At the end of the first half both sides were evenly matched with neither side scoring.

The second half continued like the first half with both sides seeming to organise themselves well and using the width of the field. The only try of the game came from the opposition shortly before full time when Dinnington managed to drive the ball over the line. Luck just was not on the Selby side today.
Full Time Selby-A 0 - Dinnington 1

Game 3 Selby A v West Park
Selby’s last game in this pool was against West Park, a side not played against this season. West Park was well organised and quick. Selby did start the brighter and caught West Park napping from the start with Selby managing to run straight down the flank and score from the start by Ben Hudson. There was some good rugby played by both sides and shortly before half time West Park equalised after Selby made a mistake and the ball went loose which they picked up and ran across the pitch and to the try line.

In the second half Selby continued to work hard and the nearest Selby got to scoring in this half came from a pass by Tom Scholefield to James Simpson who made a run down the flank but was tackled 10 metres from the line. West Park capitalised on a mistake and picked up a loose ball and made a run and with speed ran through our defence to break free and score. This was again a close game and could have gone either way but without the luck they again lost.
Full Time Selby A 1 West Park 2

Pool 2
Game 1 Selby B v York
Selby B’s first opponents were a strong well organised York side. Selby did work hard and but some good rugby together with good holdups by Ella Parsonage and Melissa Howden, also good tackles were but in by Jonathan Green and Brett Howden. But although Selby did try and pressurise York they went into half time 2-0 down.

Selby did try and get back into the game in the second half and kept York to only scoring once in the half. Good defensive play was again lead by Ella Parsonage and Melissa Howden in this half but was unable to overturn the deficit and lack of try scoring opportunities made by the team resulted in the lose.
Full time Selby B 0 York 3

Game 2 Selby B v Pocklington
Selby’s second opponents were against a team they hadn’t played this season. With lack of knowledge of their opposition Selby decided to swap some playing positions about this didn’t work to Selby’s advantage and allowed Pocklington to dominate the game and they scored time and time again though Selby’s mistakes. Although having said that there was the odd good rugby play shown by Selby with decent runs from Matt Francis and Harvey Catling, and tackles by Ella Parsonage and James Bamford.
Full Time Selby B 0 Pocklington 6

Game 3 Selby B v Hull Ionians
Hull Ionians was another team that Selby hadn’t played this season. Hull was a well organised team and made Selby came across in disarray which was reflected in the half time score of 5-0 down.

The second half started with Selby making 2 substitutes with Ella Parsonage and Melissa Howden coming on which strengthen the spine of the team. The Selby did improve and good defensive tackles was put in by Jonathan Greene, Sam Flinders and Melissa Howden. Ella Parsonage again did manage to put a good run in down the flank but was tackled to touch. Although Hull scored twice in the second half this was no detriment to the fighting spirit Selby did try to show.
Full Time Selby 0 Hull Ionians 7

Both Sides didn’t make it through to the knock out part of the festival, but all the players enjoyed playing today which is the point of the game at their age.