Under 16's bow out with a win

Jacob Cockeram writes

The underfoot conditions were good for a fast day of rugby. The side in store were Matlock, a touring side from the Derbyshire area. The opening score was from Matlock, taken after advantage was given. The try was converted to make the score 0-7. Selby were able to respond with a try of their own shortly after. The initial move being a chip and chase from Ben Sibley followed by a gather and some quick hands to allow Joe Bugg to score. This try was converted to level the scores. Matlock then scored again and converted though the supremely accurate boot of their number 12. 7-14. The game play was even at this point with both teams going through the phases. A moment of imagination was required to break the game open; this was provided by Harry Keeley who kicked the ball across face of the defensive line into the hands of Luke Fairfield. After closing in on the line Fairfield popped the ball in contact to Will Tehan who was able to score the try in the left corner (unconverted). 12-14. With this momentum in Selby’s favour there was some excellent handling from left to right to get the ball into the resident pace man’s hands (Will Cresham) who expertly finished the chance under the posts. 19-14. However, Matlock were able to fight back and gain a score just before the close of the half. 19-21.

At the beginning of the second half Matlock were able to score a converted try to make the score 19-28. Selby required another game breaking moment, and this was provided by Kacper who stormed down the right wing and into centerfield to score just right of the posts. 24-28. After the kick off there was another section of competitive play. Harry Keeley was able to identify space on the left wing from centerfield and kicked across to Will Cresham who assuredly took the high ball and went on to the opposition half. After recycling the ball, the “Yorkshire star” Connor Dale finished off a good passage of play to make the score 29-28. Dale was again called upon to carry into contact from the kick off. He managed to break contact multiple times and cruised Rolls Royce style under the posts 36-28. Selby seemed to be hitting their stride at this point when Fin and Kacper combined in the centres allowing the latter to cross the whitewash. Joe Bugg converted to make the score 43-28. After the Kick Off Matlock were able to work their way up the pitch through a series of Selby errors to within five metres of the Selby line. A lineout drive followed with the team scoring ten metres from touch. This difficult angle meant the usually reliable boot of the Matlock twelve was unable to take the further two points, 43-33. After the kick off there was another silky try from Connor Dale to take the score to 50-33 after the conversion. Through the last phases of the second half Matlock were able to rumble up the pitch and score close to the posts to leave the score at close of play 50-40.

In summary, the match was played in good spirits from both sides. Matlock carried hard into contact which made for a tough game in the forwards. Selby were able to match them in the set piece which allowed them a good platform to move forward. The handling from both the backs and forwards was exemplary and gave Selby the width they needed in attack to open holes in the Matlock defence.

Man of The Match was awarded to Tyler ‘Maverick’ Higgins.