2s Travel to Morley

A bus trip to Morley RUFC set the scene for this weeks rugby fixture for Selby 2nd team. Traveling as a team (indeed as one club) is the best way to prepare for a game and bond as a team, with traditional bus games, songs, fables and Dawson pies!

Morley RUFC is a club that traditionally held a higher ranking in leagues for many years but of late, and due to COVID have joined Selby 1st team in Northern Division Regional 2 currently mid table with Selby being top, a testament to the family atmosphere created at Selby RUFC with home grown players.

The game was full of twists and turns throughout the 80 minutes, with the addition of referees changing every 20 minutes and sunshine, drizzle and thunderous rain in the mix making a tough game even tougher but all was played in the spirit of rugby.

From the start, Selby were on the back foot. Morley have a fine mix of rugby leaguers in their side, with hard running, ball in hand and off load support in toe. The game went from one 22 to the other 22. When Selby had ball in hand they played the better rugby but the final finish was just out of sight every time. Morley pushed time and time again and were able to cross the Selby line after 10 minutes of play making it 7-0.

The Selby 2nd team, once again a different side from the week before with returning players from injury, deserving players coming up from the 3rd team and the all round player availability at the club, at an all time high. A special mention to Josh Greenfield stepping in for the first time this season. Josh was part of the team that triumphed at Twickenham all those years ago now, but still showing his physical presence on the field and loving every minute.

Selby came close on several occasions after battling in Morley’s 22 but alas could not cross the whitewash and coming away with no points leaving the score 10-0 at half time as Morley had a late penalty.

The second half brought a settled Selby side to the fore, playing the better rugby showing that the work done on the training nights was paying off. Unfortunately the weather was not kind to both sides, causing a slippy ball and all the infringements that come with wet weather and a stop start game continued throughout the second half.

However, Selby were back in the game with a try by Ollie Weston, after a period of pressure, Ollie was able to support and receive the ball at pace and crashed over the line for a team try, converted by Harry Cruise to make the score 10-7 with plenty to play for.

Following a short period of forward play with straight running from Case, Hatfield-Green, Todd and breakdown support from Gill, Ayeyard, Francis and Blaymire allowing Green to cross the line putting Selby in the lead 10-12 as the conversion was unsuccessful.

Into the last 20 minutes and the weather and physicality of the game started to take its toll on both teams, Selby still in control and playing flowing rugby when ball in hand just could not get close enough to the Morley try line to cross and seal a win. Morley were able to take back the lead with an unconverted try making it 15-12 with 5 minutes left.

Selby turned it up a notch and again camped in the Morley 22 but unfortunately could not convert the pressure into points and on losing the ball allowed Morley to gain territory ending in a kickable penalty to Morley making the final score 18-12.

Selby were the better team on the day although it is always a good match against a powerful opponent that runs straight and make the hard yards and looking forward to the return leg at Selby RUFC later in the season.