Match Reports – 16 & 17 November 2024

1st TEAM

 SELBY 14 – SCUNTHORPE 47

Scunthorpe rekindled some old friendships when they visited Sandhill Lane with the first team for the first time since the late 1980s. Joey Mowbray had to pull out at the last minute due to an injury in training and 2nd team skipper Billy Hardy stepped up admirably. The previous home game saw the Greens ‘win ugly’ and they did not reach the high targets they have set thus far. Against Selby the Scunthorpe boys were back in imperious form, especially in the first hour.

Selby started well with their youthful, lively backs asking questions. Scunthorpe gave away a penalty on three minutes, so Selby kicked it to within 5m of the try line. Scunthorpe stole the line out an exited without being punished. Scunthorpe had lineout 40m from the try line, Ben Hyde secured the ball, and the pack drove on for 40m. James Dyson did the last 10m on his own brushing off tackles to score the first try which was converted by Ethan Taylor, 0-7.

Another line out to the Scunthorpe side was followed by a further 30-metre forward drive. The ball was spun wide with excellent precision play. Ethan Heath Drury was tackled but as he fell, he managed to get the ball away on his left to the supporting Lawrence Pearce who ran in to score the under posts, Taylor converted, 0-14. Seven minutes later Selby responded with an excellent backs’ try. Scunthorpe gave the ball away with a penalty and Selby kicked to touch. From a long throw over the top of the lineout the ball went wide on the right-hand touchline, full back Charlie Bramley scorched down the wing to score under the posts, fly half Henry Wright converted, 7-14.

Scunthorpe’s forwards were on fire and from a scrum they drove their opponents 20m back. The ball was moved along the backs, from the rewind Ben Hyde made good ground Nick Dyson threw a dummy to Lawrence Pearce and then drove over. Ethan Taylor converted, 7-21.

What followed was what can only be described as a magnificent individual try from wing three-quarter Lewis Talbot. Scunthorpe were on the attack again; they were passing the ball as if it were a hot potato and not really going anywhere. Lewis got the ball tight on the left touch, he glided gracefully down the wing and with an audacious sidestep he went round the last defender running 50m to score under the posts and seal the try bonus. Taylor converted to stretch the lead to 7 points to 28. A high tackle from the Selby No4 Townend saw him given a yellow card. At the following scrum Scunthorpe punished the Selby pack with another driving display of 30m.The ball came wide and from a chip and chase Will Robinson scooped up the ball to run under the posts, Taylor converted, 7-35 – half time. Unfortunately, in the act of scoring Robinson tweaked his hamstring and was replaced by Elliot Saltmarsh on the flank, with James Dyson moving to centre.

Scunthorpe then continued the onslaught with another great scrum. Ben Hyde picked up at number eight and bullied his way over to score Scunthorpe’s sixth try and with Ethan Taylor keeping his 100% kick record Scunthorpe were now home and dry with the score at 7-42.

On the hour Lewis Talbot collected his second try. This came from a penalty followed by a trademark catch and drive line out. Bill Hardy sniped round the blind side Ethan Heath Drury took the pass and moved the ball swiftly to Talbot who dived over in the corner. Taylor missed the extra two as the score nudged to 7-47.

On 72 minutes the game was halted for ten minutes with a serious head injury. It appeared as if there was an accidental clash of heads between Kane Linklater and a Selby forward but resulted in the Scunthorpe prop receiving a red card as referee Kristian Garland indicated the replacement prop had not hinged to avoid the contact. Selby opted for a scrum and a pickup by number eight James Ibbetson saw him drive over for a try, with fly half Wright converting. Leaving the final score at Selby 14 – Scunthorpe 47.

The game petered out and ended in somewhat of an anticlimax which slightly soured what was a very impressive victory by the Greens. Head Coach Tim Robinson was away at Twickenham, and he would have been very proud of the way the players responded to the previous week’s performance, this now sees them eleven points in front at the top of Regional NE 1. Next week is a rest week and then the following weekend sees second place York visit fortress Heslam for what will be another tough test for the Greens.

Player of the Match – Lewis Talbot

Match report written by Steve Williams. Photos from Richard Poskitt – Selby Camera Club