After two good performances on the road the boys were due to travel to Hull Ionians this Sunday but with the hosts unable to fulfil the fixture, we travelled to Driffield who stepped in and offered to host the u16 boys.

On a warm day, the squad was depleted in numbers from the previous week and with two no shows on the morning of the game Selby were reliant on the hosts lending us a couple of players to make it a 15 a side fixture.

Whilst down in numbers and without substitutions the boys put up a battling performance and were competitive throughout but fell short in the spells that mattered and despite a rally at the end of the first half were not able to get on top of a tough Driffield team.

A positive start saw the boys attack from kick off but despite a period in the hosts half were unable to turn the field position and possession into points and it was the hosts that scored the first try after 10 minutes. Taking advantage of the forward phases Driffield surged into the Selby half before releasing the back line who ran through the Selby middle and touched down under the posts and a conversion made it 7-0.

Before Selby had time to properly reset and learn from the hosts game plan the same result occurred 5 minutes later to increase the lead and a third try after 21 minutes, fortunately for the visitors missing the conversions to restrict the score to 17-0.

Selby’s try of the match was scored by their man of the match, Alex S in 26 minutes, having recovered from the punishing attacks from the hosts, Selby forwards pushed back and after strong drives from the forwards were inside the opponents 5 metre line and Alex was able to force his was over to make the score 17-5.

With their tails up again, Selby enjoyed possession for the remainder of the half, but when the opposition did break up a move on half way on 30 minutes Dan J saw an opportunity to scoop up the ball on the half way line and once the speedy centre broke the first tackle he was not going to be caught and ran in unchallenged under the posts, and with Sam converting the deficit was reduced to 17-12 as the half time whistle blew.
Selby had to reorganise for the second half with the loaned players being changed and unfortunately the team were still adjusting to their new positions and team mates at kick off and Driffield took advantage to find gaps in the defensive line to score within a minute of the restart 22-12.

Further miscommunication and missed tacked in the Selby ranks allowed the hosts to score two further tries on 42 and 51 minutes and with the latter converted the large scoreboard in the corner of the ground read 34-12.

Selby still continued to push forwards when they could, the Driffield loanees fought well against their home club and Selby were able to register another score on 53 minutes. Joe saw a gap in the Driffield flank and kicked into the space, the ball bounced into the hosts 22 and by chasing the kick caused panic in the hosts defence, and having retrieved his own kick offloaded to Tom to run the ball in, Joe was unlucky with the conversion coming back of the post, but Selby had reduced the arrears to 34-17.

The game came to an end after 66 minutes due to a shoulder injury to a hosts player requiring a period of treatment and we wish him a speedy recovery.

The game was a wake up call to the boys of the need to remain focussed for the whole match, to win their individual battles and tackles and support each other as one man can’t run through the opposition without his teammates on his shoulder.

Whilst Alex was deservedly man of the match for his efforts a shout out also goes to Dylan who from scrum made and took a number of big hits from the large Driffield forwards never once taking a backward step.

Thanks to all that those that travelled and we move on wiser for the experience!

We hope to arrange a fixture for next Sunday, if not the next game is at home to York on 23rd March

Match Summary
Driffield 34-17 Selby (HT 17-12) Friendly
34-17
Selby Try Scorers:
Sam
Alex S
Dan J
Tom

Conversions:
Sam