1st XV

L 12-29

League

11-11-2023

Selby

By Charlie Hopper

Scarborough RUFC’s difficult run of form continued after second place Selby came away with a 29-12 win at Silver Royd on Saturday afternoon.

Backed by over 80 past players, Head Coach Matty Jones welcomed back Australian prop Benny Blackall into the squad, but his side were immediately on the back foot and found themselves, 3-0, down inside the first five minutes after Henry Wright had kicked a straightforward penalty. Scarborough came fighting back and were building the phases, close to the line, when Wright intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field to score his sides first converted try of the afternoon. The home crowd were celebrating in the 13th minute when they watched Euan Govier finish of a lovely team move to reduce the deficit to 10-5. Fly-half Jack Holt collected the ball, put in a dangerous cross field kick before Jonty Holloway collected and offloaded for Govier to score. Neither side added to the scoreline before half-time, but Scarborough had gone close on numerous occasions.

In need of a quick start to the second-half, Jordan Holloway had a superb chance to give his side a deserved lead in the 48th minute but was controversially judged to have been held up over the try line. The momentum continued to swing in the home sides favour and the returning Luke Brown made it count with a try in the 50th minute. He powered through the defence before diving over under the posts for 12-10. Selby then turned the game on its head with three unanswered tries in the final 15 minutes of the match. In the 67th minute, they retook the lead after they worked the ball out wide and had scored in the corner. Then Flanker, Ibbetson, powered over from close range. Wright stepped up again to stretch his sides lead to 22-12. The final action of the game came in the form of a try for the visitors. Wright’s kick was caught by the winger, Robinson, and he scored under the posts to round of a 29-12 win.

Scarborough are back on the road next weekend, with a crunch game against bottom of the table Glossop.