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SELBY 3RDS 20 – OLD OTLIENSIANS A 24
With the 1st XV cancelling their home
friendly with York RI to rest seven players carrying injuries, the 2nd XV
were able to include Lee O’Donnell returning from injury, winger Nick
Keinhorst and lock Sam Gray. There was a serious setback when two new
players failed to turn up, so the match started with ‘Ensians having only
fourteen players, Selby having sportingly loaned a bench player. Veteran
flanker Richard Crossley took over at scrum half partnering Matt
Tenniswood, and outside them were experienced centres Lee O’Donnell and
Andy Hayward.
With the solid front row of Tony Myers, Ross Myers and Ben Newall
providing good ball from the scrums, the visiting backs were soon on the
move and Andy Hayward showed from the off that he had the beating of his
opposite number. After several searching runs, Hayward cut through in
style to send winger Nick Keinhorst away to touch down half way out.
Although the conversion failed, ‘Ensians were 5 points ahead on 8 minutes.
Both sides continued to attack, but flanker Toby Baltrop and No. 8 Alan
Garnett covered well to snuff out several dangerous attacks. With Selby
playing down the slope, pressure built up and the visitors conceded a try
wide out on 20 minutes. The excellent conversion put the visitors behind
at 7 – 5.
Sam Gray and Alan Garnett were producing quality ball from the lineout and
O’Donnell made some threatening runs before a return of a groin injury
forced him to move to the wing. With the extra man, the hosts were quick
to attack and on 24 minutes, good backing up produced another try half way
out to take their lead to 12 – 5. ‘Ensians fought back and Sam Gray and
Tony Myers had some powerful runs to set up some good back moves. When
Selby moved quick ball from a ruck, winger Nick Keinhorst spotted his
chance and intercepted a floated pass to set off on a 40 yard run to the
line for his second try. The conversion by Tenniswood levelled the score
at 12 apiece as half time approached.
After the break, the heavier home pack began to assert itself, but Tony
Myers, Ross Myers and Ben Newall battled hard to keep them in check. With
Hayward posing a threat every time he received ball in space, the visiting
backs continued to probe and when he sliced through, Richard Crossley was
on hand to take the pass and go in near the posts. Tenniswood provided the
extras to give ‘Ensians a 19 – 12 advantage on 52 minutes.
With the extra man, Selby were still very much in the game and Tenniswood
had to relieve pressure with long raking kicks. The game continued very
much end to end and both sides had chances which failed due to either good
defence or passes going to ground. As the home backs gained in confidence,
they put together a sweeping move to put their winger over in the corner
and the failed conversion reduced ‘Ensians’ lead to 19 – 17 on 63 minutes.
With their tails up, Selby now attacked from deep and solid defence from
Crossley, Garnett and Baltrop stifled several attacks. When the visitors
strayed offside, Selby converted a penalty to take the lead at 20 – 19 on
72 minutes. ‘Ensians were far from finished and Harker and Gray took the
game to the hosts with powerful runs. With time running out, a chip ahead
by loaned centre Lee Brown saw Nick Keinhorst gather on the full and beat
two defenders on a 50 yard run to the line for his hat trick. The
conversion narrowly missed, but ‘Ensians were now in front at 24 – 20 and
they controlled the game well for the last three minutes to pull off a
fine victory.
With a man down throughout and Lee O’Donnell reduced to a passenger for
most of the game, this was an excellent result brought about by a mixture
of a sound forward effort and some enterprising back play with Andy
Hayward and Nick Keinhorst to the fore.
OLD OTLIENSIANS B 31 – SELBY 5ths 0
For this home game,
veteran Peter Tempest was at scrum half with youngster Robert Lofthouse
partnering him at fly half in his first game for the Club. Although the
opposition boasted a very heavy front row, it was decided that scrums
would be uncontested as one prop was new to the role. Afterwards comments
revealed that their ages totalled 152 years, with one prop comfortably in
his sixties. For ‘Ensians their front three of Scott Child, Andy Rockett
and Ray Drake had a few years between them, but nothing to touch this.
With quick ball coming from the scrums, the home side were soon on the
attack and Josh Howarth and Jim McDougall in the centre began posing
problems for the visitors’ defence. In the back row, newcomer Mike Moore
settled in well with No.8 Matt Taylor and fellow flanker Derek Mott. With
both sides looking to move the ball wide, opportunities appeared, but good
defence meant chances came to nothing. Eventually on 25 minutes, Howarth
jinked his way through to score wide out to give the home side a 5 – 0
lead. Soon afterwards, his centre partner McDougall went over after a
strong run and added the extras himself to lift the score to 12 – 0 at the
break.
In the second period, Selby came more into the attack through their very
experienced and competent fly half. Full back Graham Bentley and wingers
Tom Broadbent and Steve Lofthouse had to pull off some try-saving tackles
to keep the line clear and in the pack, locks Mark Copping and Ian
Robinson toiled to gain the hard yards. On 45 minutes, Bentley linked up
well and showed his skills to go over near the posts with McDougall
converting to take the score to 19 – 0.
The home back row of Moore, Taylor and Mott worked well together and
Taylor was always a threat with his rampaging runs. Selby fought hard to
get back into the game for long periods, camping in the ‘Ensians half
without managing to breach the defence. Otliensians also played some
attractive open rugby, but it was 20 minutes elapsed before replacement
Rob Grey went over to add to the score. McDougall again converted to move
the score to 26 – 0 on 65 minutes. Eight minutes later, Taylor was
rewarded with a fine try after a strong 70 yard run and the home side
continued to attack for the closing minutes of the game to record a
comfortable 31 – 0 victory.
This was a game played in an excellent spirit with newcomers Robert
Lofthouse and Mike Moore acquitting themselves well. With Andy Rockett and
Mark Copping to the fore, the whole pack worked hard to produce good ball
for their enterprising backs and credit must go to Selby for battling hard
right to the end.
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