York RUFC won a closely fought game 21-19 against local rivals Selby at Clifton Park with the cultured boot of Liam Hessay providing the difference. This was one of only 3 games to be played in a frost affected Yorkshire 1 programme.

York started much the stronger and after shunting the Selby pack back 10m in the opening scrum, they applied immediate pressure. Selby tackled like demons to repel the hosts but after 10 minutes the ball was fed to winger Will Dunlop who stepped his marker and sprinted in for the score, No. 10 Hessay converting well from 25m. York again camped in the Selby half with forwards Norris, Fox and Benson prominent in attack. The Selby defence was again strong but was soon to yield another penalty on 30m which Hessay stroked through the posts. He then slotted another 3 minutes later from the same distance, to make it 13-0 and total match domination to York.

It took 20 minutes for Selby to kick their way into the York half, from the lineout York failed to clear to touch and Selby attacked the York line earning a penalty from which Duncan Hardy powered over for an unconverted try. Buoyed by this, Selby visibly grew in confidence and forced the hosts into a series of errors to keep play firmly in the York half. Skipper Fox was yellow carded on 35 mins for a high tackle and Selby elected for the attacking scrum 5m from the line, the York front row, dominant in the set piece all day, promptly took the ball against the head and York cleared their line. Still playing with 14 men, a fumbled pass was gathered by York No. 8 Britland who pirouetted up field 10m and fed young prop Sam Blain who hurtled through would be tacklers to take the ball to the Selby 10m, quick ruck ball was secured and centre Singleton crashed over for the try wide out. Half time, 18-5.

Selby started the second half in much the same fashion as York had started the first and following yet another York fumble, prop Hardy dummied his way over, off an attacking lineout , converted by stand-off Hunt. York then failed to deal with a kick in field which was taken cleanly by Selby winger Dallimore on the halfway, only a last ditch tackle from stand in scrum half Peace prevented a further try. York managed a mini revival inspired by replacement props Coe and Norris dominating the Selby scrum to earn turn over ball from which Fox and Coe bludgeoned their way into the Selby half. This was to come at a cost as the influential Peace was forced from the field through injury, with no recognised scrum half, winger Nicholson stepped into the unfamiliar position.

Selby were now full of running with Aussie props Nagle and Hardy punching holes through a fading York defence, an attacking scrum on the York 5m was repelled with vigour, rather too much as York’s outstanding 7 Thomson and Selby second row Romaniw were sent to the bench for a 10 minute breather. A good long line out throw was misread by the York defence and No 8 Booth strolled under the posts for a Hunt converted try, Selby had the lead for the first time 18-19, York seemed to be on the ropes. From the kick-off however, ball was fed wide to Hessay who broke through on the blind and was tackled just short of the line, Selby were then caught offside in defence and Hessay calmly slotted the penalty to put York back into a narrow lead. Selby again capitalised on York handling errors to attack through their increasingly confident backs and the irrepressible man of the match Hardy, but were ultimately repelled by a now stronger York defence, boosted by the return of Thomson from the bin. Hessay was wide with a further penalty attempt just before full time.

Selby belied their lowly position and should take belief that they can climb out of the relegation zone on this performance. York were below par today but have now won twice in succession for the first time this season. With the return of some key players and more consistency they should aspire to the top half of the table.