Yorkshire Cup Progress

It was an interesting contrast to see the way that these two teams approached this Yorkshire Cup ¼ final match. Whilst it is accepted that the Yorkshire RFU Cup competitions have lost the status that they had in the pre-league days, the ¼ final of the top County Cup competition should still have some status amongst junior clubs. A view that did not appear to have been adopted by Selby as they reportedly opted to field a weakened team. Goole on the other hand showed the respect the competition deserved by playing a strong starting team whilst also filling the bench with some inexperienced 2nd team youngsters in a squad that included two more first team debutants.
In wonderful playing conditions, Goole kicked off and from an early home team fumble and following passage of play, Goole were awarded a straightforward penalty, kicked by Moore to take the early lead 0 – 3. Almost from the restart, Goole lost hooker Raymond Coates who mistimed a tackle and took no further part in the game with youngster Tom Drury coming on as replacement with Selby looking the stronger scrummaging pack in these early stages. It was from a scrum penalty and following line out, that Selby won good possession and scored a converted try from close range to take the lead 7 -3 after just seven minutes from their first visit to the Goole 22. From the kick off Goole went through a few phases before disappointingly missing a very kickable penalty in front of the posts but a powerful carry by Sam Smith immediately took Goole back inside the Selby 22. An illegal tackle in front of the posts resulting in a yellow card for the Selby tackler, and three welcomed points for Goole debutant off-half Tom Holt to allow Goole to narrow the gap to 7 -6. Even at these early stages of the game Selby were finding it extremely difficult to penetrate the Goole defensive line, whilst the Goole attackers were breaking though into open ground with increased frequency, with the Smith brothers the main threat. Yet despite looking the more threatening team in open play, it took some time before Goole got the next score from a 5m catch and drive with Rhys Moore taking possession of the ball and touching down as the maul crossed the try line. The successful conversion by Tom Holt giving Goole the lead 7 – 13 after 26 mins of the half.
Almost from the kick off Goole found themselves a man down with a yellow card following a reckless high tackle by Matty Lill on halfway, with the resulting penalty being immediately followed by another just outside the Goole 22. Ignoring the kick at goal opportunity, Selby opted to kick for a line out, but the badly sliced kick went dead with the inaccurate Selby kicking becoming a feature throughout the game. After being let off the hook, Goole push Selby back into their own half winning penalties that resulted in an another attacking 5m line out. Quality possession from the lineout once again but a less effective rolling maul resulted in a need for a Plan B and it came whilst advantage was being played. Off half Tom Holt’s sublime little punt over the defender’s heads in front of the posts resulted in possession retained and Rhys Moore going over for his second try of the match. The successful conversion by Holt stretching Goole’s lead to 7 – 20 with just five minutes of the half remaining and the home team anxious to get a score before half time. Their final opportunity came with a scrum put-in just 8m from the Goole line with heavyweights Louis Sugden and Jason Blanchard off the field and first team novice Louis Greaves at prop to give Goole its most inexperienced front row of the season. To their credit, the Goole scrum held firm and Selby were forced into an error in the backs that brought the half to an end. HT 7 – 20.
Selby started the 2nd half very sloppily with a poor restart followed by a poor clearance kick in open play going directly into touch that resulted in Goole possession from the line out just outside the Selby 22. A subsequent high tackle penalty in front of the posts allowing Goole to extend their lead to 7 – 23. From the restart Selby began to apply pressure to the inexperienced Goole pack in the scrum that now had centre Malcolmson at flanker with the pressure resulting in a yellow card for Goole’s second debutant Matt Backhouse for another high tackle as Selby became more desperate to get a score. However, try as they might, they failed to breakdown the reshuffled depleted Goole tenacious defence and went away empty handed. Goole were now back to full strength with some 20 mins remaining and Will Devenish on at scrum half as Goole dominated the remainder of the game thanks to his whirlwind performance starting with a powerful 35m run after Goole stole the ball from a Selby line out just 5m from the Goole try line. From here onwards Goole took control scoring three further tries with the first from prop Lamb who continued his recent run of good form, followed by two excellent running tries by the backs as the ball went through the hands to score the best tries of the game. Billy Walker went over in the left corner from a line out at halfway on the other side of the pitch, and this was followed by a Sam Smith swallow dive try after the ball went through numerous pairs of hands for the final score of the match.
All in all, it was a great day for Goole with a well-deserved result, tries scored and another excellent defensive display that shut Selby out for over 70 minutes of the game. Whilst the Bookies favourite, Jack Smith got the Man of the Match award, special mention must go to the debutants and young inexperienced players off the bench with prop Louis Greaves coming through a challenging 50 mins and Tom Drury playing almost all the game. Add to that, players such as Malcolmson playing out of position, and it shows the strength in depth of the Goole squad.