Selby Away Match Report

Literal inches separated Leos from victory as they and Selby 4ths fought each other to a 10-10 draw in a thrilling, brutal contest. Although both teams can, to an extent, feel disappointed to have not won the match, it was generally agreed that a draw was a fair outcome to a match which ranged from the sublime to the absurd in terms of quality.

Two pitches across, Leos 1st XV did battle with their Selby counterparts in a match which (probably) featured lots of structured, thoughtful rugby. Such nonsense was certainly not encouraged nor in evidence during our game, with the two teams resembling boxers standing and trading blows for twelve rounds and neither able to land the killer punch in the end. In short, a classic match played in the finest traditions of 3rd XV rugby (with one notable exception, to be explained later…)

Kicking off on a brisk but not unpleasant day, Leos quickly got into it with the heavy, physical pack which is traditional to all Selby sides. The home team played conservatively in the opening stages, using pick and drives and with their 10 seeking to kick in behind the Leos’ defensive line. This was in part brought on by Leos’ weakness in the lineout; lacking usual aerial enforcers such as Gregor Belfield and Luke Wyman (and with Steve Lloyd promoted to the 2s), Leos were forced to turned to skipper Billy Marsh and Kenny Parsons and, with the latter having to lift the former it was pretty obvious where the ball was going. This lack of clean lineout ball plagued Leos all day, despite Marsh’s battling attempts to win possession.

Although Leos had an even share of possession, they were unable to make their early field position count and it was Selby who crossed first, with Leos unable to withstand the pressure of repeated forward carries. The conversion was missed (as was every kick at goal during the match).

Spurred into action, Leos forced their way into the Selby half with some forward grunt of their own. Avoiding the lineout in favour of running the ball proved a positive development, with a talented backline marshalled by fly half Tom Gedye proving a fair old threat to Selby’s position. It was the pack who got the equalising score however when multiple drives brought Leos to within touching distance. Kenny Parsons tried his luck and was repelled, Billy Marsh also had a dig and was similarly resisted, but there was no stopping Matt Dallingwater who bulled his way over on the 15 metre line. Again, no extras were added.

Despite Leos’ lineout woes the game was becoming extremely even on possession and territory. It was also becoming physical in the middle and somewhat fraught, a situation which was compounded by the referee taking a strangely belligerent and aggressive approach to player interactions, a stance perhaps more suited to naughty schoolchildren than adults playing a game in a good spirit. Selby were able to hit the front again when a superb counterattack from their back three led to a try out wide, but Leos quickly pegged them back when a loose Selby pass was intercepted by scrum half Sam Cooley, the Leos’ 9 racing half the length to go under the posts. Selby complained bitterly to the referee that Cooley had been offside (I have no idea, but he is pretty quick to be fair) but their complaints fell on deaf ears. The half time score was thus 10-10.

Despite the lack of points in the second half it was arguably more dramatic than the first, especially as the match moved towards its conclusion. Both teams had tries controversially chalked off by the referee and frustrations boiled over at various points, resulting in a tempestuous 40mins. The second half began largely as the first had ended with the main focus being a physical battle up front, but as players began to tire Leos’ young backs came to the fore. Fast lads such as Jake Herman, Jamie Crighton and full back Shaun Tatlow posed real problems for a stretched Selby defence, whilst Brendan “Bosh” Fosh kept them honest with a solid crash ball presence at 12. From such a situation came Leos’ big chance and a move which, several pints later, it was sworn blind ought to have won them the match. Tom Gedye and Fosh fixed some defenders, the ball came wide and into the hands to Tatlow, who avoided the opposition winger just enough to put on a spectacular flying finish right in the corner.

To the anguish of Leos however, the referee said no, ruling that Tatlow’s foot had just grazed the whitewash. Despite the massive disappointment Leos got stuck back into the game, which was now becoming increasingly ragged as both teams wore each other down. More space was opened up with around twenty minutes to go when Matt Dallingwater and a Selby player exchanged blows and were both sent to the sin bin to cool their heels. With a big Leos presence off the field Selby rumbled repeatedly towards the Leos line. Desperate defending followed as Leos strained every sinew to resist, until a pod of Selby forwards battered their way into Kenny Parsons and Billy Marsh and over the line…

…only to find that the ball was, inexplicably, in skipper Marsh’s hands! Despite the furious protests of the Selby scrum half the referee ruled that the ball was NOT grounded before being stripped by Marsh. Leos lived to fight another day.

Still penned back in their territory however with four minutes to go, Leos gave away a penalty near their own sticks and there the drama began. With time running short, Selby took the decision to kick for goal. This was considered most un-Corinthian and not in the spirit of 3rd XV rugby, a sentiment which Leos’ skipper Marsh expressed most vocally and using words which I will not repeat here. With the match winning kick at hand, both teams held their breath. The Selby kicker stepped up calmly, glory beckoned and then the rugby gods snatched it away as he hooked his kick the left of the post. The score remained, incredibly, at 10-10 and then it was Leos’ turn to almost snatch victory. The Flying 3s, bouyed by their narrow escape, marched the home team downfield on the last play and went for the corner, only to be turned over. The Selby 10 decided this was enough and kicked for touch, but didn’t make it and found Shaun Tatlow instead. Swiftly the ball was worked across the field into the hands of fellow Aussie Theo Wilson, who stepped his winger and raced towards the line. The Selby fullback raced across to make a game-saving tackle, but not before Wilson got a kick away. Another Selby player tried to kick it dead but only shanked it into midfield towards Brendan Fosh, who dived for the ball over the line…and was beaten to it by inches. Remarkably the match somehow ended in a draw, despite all the opportunities enjoyed by both teams.

Although this represents a missed opportunity, Leos can take great pride in their performance considering that this was very much a scratch side which didn’t get much of a warmup thanks to everyone running around looking for new studs. Aside from those already mentioned, strong performances came from hooker Tom Smetham who led the way in defence, chopping down Selby players like so many trees and prop Simon Howarth, who proved a massive handful in both attack and defence despite somehow getting on the referee’s bad side (where he joined every other player on the field).

A fine bus trip was had, with the traditional trip to Chequers being made on the way back home. The 3s are next due in action next week, when Old Crossleyans 2s will be the hosts. Crocs will be eager to avenge the defeat they suffered at the Crag last time and it promises to be another bruising encounter!