The 5th round of Yorkshire Cup Matches saw Selby visit Pocklington where only 2 weeks prior the boys had played their best game of the season, winning 63-7, and the question being asked was could there be a repeat performance?

The determination to maintain the performance and concentration level was evident as each of the 19 man squad arrived in the changing room and positivity spread throughout the squad as all knew they had a part to play for the outcome to be positive one, and the answer was a resounding YES!

Straight from kick off Selby took control of possession, dominating rucks and spreading the ball to the backs even earlier than the previous week. The hosts reeling from the previous match had strengthened their forwards and held out valiantly until 6th minute when Elloitt HM read and intercepted a pass from rare Pocklington possession to break unchallenged to score under the posts and a conversion gave Selby a 0-7 lead.

Sam was next to find a gap in the hosts defensive line and score Selby’s second try, once again converted and after 9 minutes is was 0-14.

No sooner has the hosts kicked off that Selby were once again on the march, Pocklington were unable to cope with the pace the Selby forwards were playing. Euan was dominating the rucks, forcing the opposition forwards onto the back foot at every opportunity, giving the rest of the team time and space to set up attack after attack.

Billy was next to cross the line 3 minutes later. Following a crunching tackle by Charlie on half way, the ball broke to second rower Alex, who ran 40 yards down the blindside channel before being heroically tackled by the Pocklington full back, initially supported by Zack and then very soon the rest of the team Selby were able to create another foundation that was finished in the opposite corner and with the third conversion Selby increased the lead to 0-21.

Zack was next to score after 14 minutes, completing another team move with ball passing through multiple hands before diving over in the corner 0-26.

The game became a contest during the mid part of the half as Pocklington continued to put up resistance but after 26 minutes they were breached again with Lawrence scoring the first of his three tries in the game after more forward pressure was our captain drive over from 1 metre and when converted again Selby had topped the thirty point mark, 0-33.

The try of the game came after 28 minutes when Alex again repeated his pick and blind side run from half way, but this time seeing the full back approach, chipped the ball over the top and then spectacularly chase down and collect his own kick to score an amazing solo try. There was still time for Dan J to finish off another passing move on 33 minutes to conclude the scoring in a first half to the delight of the watching, and filming, parents. HT 0-43.

Whilst the hosts knew a win was out of the question they still played with pride and commitment and Selby still had to be on their guard to keep their hosts scoreless and defended with discipline, restricting time in the Selby half to a minimum and all further scoring in the second half was by the visiting team.

All the tries were a result of team play with the 19 all having contributed directly to at least one try in the win, Lawrence scored again on 41 and 54 minutes with Josh F getting a try in-between them, Dan J touched down again on 56 minutes and Alex S scored his second on 60 minutes.

The referee blew for full time soon after and when the scorer added it all up Selby had amassed 72 points.

Credit should again go to our opponents Pocklington as all the points had to be earned, the commitment to compete for each and every ball and tackle meant Selby had to focus throughout and we wish them well for the rest of the season.

Whilst there were again 8 different try scores of the 12 scored, man of the match was Euan, as his selfless role of clearing out at the rucks and supporting ball carriers laid the foundation for many of the tries.

We don’t know what our fate will be in the overall Yorkshire Cup results but whatever happens next we definitely completed the qualifying rounds on a high!