SelbyPost 17 January 2013. - Global Title

PAGE FIFTY FOUR Thursday, January 17th, 2013
SELBY POST SPORT
Yorkshire Two
rugby standings
(inc. Jan. 12)
Team P W D L F APts
Doncaster Phoenix 16 14 0 2 462 265 66
SELBY 16 13 0 3 551 215 64
Yarnbury 16 12 0 4 415 262 61
West Leeds 16 11 0 5 329 220 50
Hullensians 16 9 2 5 499 258 50
Bradford Salem 16 10 0 6 437 370 48
Sheffield Medics 16 9 1 6 367 217 46
Roundhegians 16 6 2 8 366 424 36
Leodensians 16 6 1 9 296 321 34
West Park Leeds 16 6 1 9 300 395 34
Ripon 16 6 1 9 298 417 31
Moortown 16 3 1 12 256 444 24
Skipton 16 1 1 14 180 476 8
Castleford 16 0 0 16 197 642 1
Eager to
perform after
long break
Malton Under 16s 0, Selby
RUFC Under 16s 22
A cohesive performance from 16 well
rested players produced yet a further
improvement on the previous outing
for Selby Under 16s..
Despite a lack of numbers, a great
team spirit demonstrated excellent
communications throughout.
Selby scored early, Drew Foster
powering is way through from a
clearance kick, going over to score and
Scott Hunt converted on five minutes.
Malton tried to respond, but the
young Swans’ commitment at the
breakdowns was excellent, and after 20
minutes a heavily driven maul provided
Andy McLoughlin the chance to go over
for a 12-0 lead.
McLoughlin did a fabulous job of
shipping quick and slow ball (when
necessary), to compensate home power
in the scrum, the backs enjoying the
accuracy of passing and freedom to run,
and reward was at hand after the break,
when Jacob Burke went over for yet
another try this campaign. This was his
first of the match which could have
turned into four if it had not been for the
Malton defence which put three/four
guys on him.
It was pleasing to see the back row
linking up so well on numerous
occasions however on one break away
the back row gained some 20 metres
taking Selby from their defensive zone
into a position of offence within Malton
territory. The interchanging was clear to
see as was the clear loud oral supporting
communication from all three of them.
Further strong but sometimes
understated performances from Caolan
Smart, Tom Wright and Ben Stewart
(repeatedly hitting the target man at line
outs) with Dom Leighton stepping up to
prop ably supported by the ever high
achiever Tom Richardson.
It was then left up to McLoughlin to
cap of a fine individual performance by
scoring a second try following relentless
work from Oliver Lockett who
successfully charged down a clearance
kick in Malton's 22. in support, to drop
on to the ball to score and the 22-0 win
was a good reflection on an excellent day
for the team.
Simple and very effective rugby, true
team spirit, truly and simply a joy to
watch guys.
Not rugby’s finest 80 minutes
Selby 2nd XV 89
Roundhegians III 0
A game of rugby that should not
have been played writes PAUL
GABEL.
Politics in a rugby club should not
be allowed and when Roundhegians’
third team are far better than their
second team, it doesn’t feel right,
never the less the game went ahead
with a white wash from the Selby side
resulting in a 89-0 win.
Selby started the game keeping ball
in hand and was soon evident that the
opposition had nothing to offer when
Saunders was able to skip around
several Roundhegian players as if he
was out for an afternoon stroll. With
the off load to supporting Selby
Roundhegians 21
Selby 1st XV 33
Selby followers were advised of a
potential banana skin awaiting at
Roundhegians on Saturday in Yorkshire
Two, but despite shipping 21 points, an
improved second half show brought
home important promotion points,
writes STEPHEN WARD.
After an ordinary first half
performance against a side, admittedly
much improved from their 57-12 defeat at
Sandhill Lane in early autumn, the
Swans ran out deserving bonus point
winners in a thrilling encounter where
the lead changed hands on five occasions.
With Andrew Pocklington and
Matthew Wood both unavailable, skipper
Duncan Hardy started at prop with
Martin Protheroe at No. 8 – Mark Tanner,
Iain Adamson and Oliver O’Brien started
on the bench.
Selby were almost ahead in the
opening minute after a charge down on
the Roundhegians ‘22’, but play was
brought back for a penalty to the hosts
for a Swans player ‘going in at the side’ of
a ruck.
They did go ahead after 11 minutes
when full back Dan Porter brilliantly
turned defence into attack after fielding a
deep kick in his own ‘22 and making 50
metres with a mazy run to release Alex
Webster, Karim Brown and James
Blaymire for Hardy to stroll in under the
posts for the try converted by Josh Cruise.
Roundhegians levelled after turning
over possession on the Selby 30 metre line
and spreading the ball wide for winger
Elliot Jackson to power over for the try –
scrum half Alex Jones converted to bring
the scores level.
A poor mistake from the visitors after
28 minutes, saw a pass go to ground,
players resulted in the first try of the
day going to stalwart Ed Clark with
three minutes gone.
Once again at the restart Selby were
able to punch hole after hole through
the none existent defence leaving
Saunders an easy try out wide just
eight minutes in.
This looked to be a good day for
Selby when from a scrum, young No.
8, Phillips was able to pick up and use
his twinkle toes to shrug of two
tacklers and pass the ball out to the
awaiting backs for yet again a gifted
try by Saunders.
With Booth showing his ability as a
loose head prop for the first time,
controlling the scrums while veteran
Godfrey cornered them at tight head.
Selby was able to dominate freely and
allowing centre Tim Smith to hack on and
collect and to run unopposed over the
line for the try improved by Alex Jones
putting Roundhegians in front 14-7.
Mark Tanner replaced Tom Bell at prop
after 33 minutes, and six minutes later, on
the stroke of half time, Selby drew level
after smart work from winger Ben Lunt
and flanker Jacob Robinson putting
hooker Josh Greenfield in for the first of
his hat-trick on the afternoon, with Cruise
once again converting.
Roundhegians could have gone into
the break three points in front, but Jones
missed the 40 metre chance after the
Swans had been penalised for being in
front of the kicker from a penalty of their
own – as it was the scores were level 14all
A great run by flanker Robinson three
minutes into the second half put Selby on
the attack with big Martin Protheroe
making massive inroads into the home
defence before centre Sam Weller went
over for a well-deserved first try of the
season – Cruise missed the conversion,
but Selby were ahead.
This lead was short-lived, however,
with Roundhegians straight back on the
attack and creating a huge overlap for
winger Jackson to score his second try of
the afternoon – Jones kicked an excellent
conversion to give his side the lead 21-19.
O’Brien replaced Protheroe after 53
minutes with Selby regaining the lead
three minutes later with Greenfield on
hand to take the final pass and score near
the posts with Cruise converting.
With Adamson on for Alex Webster
after 64 minutes and Protheroe returning
for the tireless Karim Brown 10 minutes
later, Selby put the result beyond doubt
after 77 minutes when young winger
Charlton McCoy made a brilliant run
adventurously.
Strong direct running from
Langahan making great yards putting
the visitors on the back foot allowing
a rare opportunity for supporting M.
Wass to touch down over the line.
Credit to Roundhegians as they stuck
at it but only to keep kicking
possession away when maybe they
should have stuck it up their jumpers
to test the Selby defence.
The counter attack was always
going to produce some good flowing
rugby from forwards and backs. How
true this was when captain Lamb was
able to cross over for his first try of the
new year with no opposition to beat.
The start of the second half was
undoubtedly the best Selby could
have had and again summed up the
deep into the Roundhegians defence
before putting hooker Greenfield in for
his hat- trick of tries and his 10th of the
season – Cruise converted for the bonus
point win to keep the pressure on leaders
Doncaster Phoenix.
Despite one or two defensive alarms
on the day, they have the best points
against record in the division. With a
home game against Moortown this
opposition, when on came retired
veteran Jason Cicero. A second rower
of this magnitude was still able to out
fox the visitors by taking the ball from
the kick off, headed towards the try
line from the half way just like a
vintage traction engine would have in
days gone by.
All this while selling the most
outrageous dummy to the opposite
winger and full back to score in the
corner.
The floodgate then opened up for
Selby and a flurry of tries by Liddle,
McHale, Saunders, Lamb, Oliver and
Phillips with added conversions by
Torn made the game finish at 89-0.
A good day for Selby seconds, but
on the face of it a bad day for rugby.
Swans overcome
first half blues
weekend, followed by another home
game against Sheffield Medicals, Selby
should be capable of keeping the pressure
cranked up on the League leaders.
A busy time at Sandhill Lane, sees
Selby start their Senior Vase,
Twickenham? adventure on February 2
with against Northumberland and
Durham Division Two Club, Winlaton
Vulcans, weather permitting of course.