Sweet victory and a fitting end to a tremendous young team!

Selby kicked off this Senior Colts Yorkshire Plate Final, into a strong wind and Heath failed to secure leading to some scrappy play, finally inside centre Sam Pollard hoofed the ball a full 75 metres to relieve the pressure. The West Vale boys pinned Selby in their own 22 metres with some ferocious tackling led by Lewis Foxton and Kofi Brobbey. As Selby tried to run out from defence the ever alert Sam Pollard intercepted and strolled in under the posts for an easy conversion by Ezra Hinchliffe for a 7 point lead on 15 Minutes. Spurred on by the set back, Selby impressively drove on to the Heath 22 metre and under pressure, Heath conceded a penalty narrowing the score line at 7 points to 3. Selby kept the ball well and apart from some slinky incisive running from Jack Ledgard and Max Sheldrake it was all Selby. Under severe pressure Heath gave away too many penalties for the referee’s patience and they were punished by having Captain Stephan Hare sent to the sin bin. Whilst Heath were one man down and after a series of skilful and controlled drives the Selby No 8 deservedly powered over the white wash to take the lead at Heath 7 – Selby 8. The first half was somewhat error strewn and with the penalty counts high for both sides due in part to an eagle eyed referee and intense competition the game hadn’t flowed with any pattern. Heath kicked off the second half into a fierce wind and with a one-point deficit, they chose to abandon the kicking game and run with the ball. 2 minutes in and Selby were under pressure in their own 22 with Selby’s only option a clearance kick, but Heath’s predatory wing forward Jonny Porritt scooped the ball off the boot of the kicker and smartly covered the 25 metres to score an exceptional try. Conversion missed Heath 12 – 8 Selby. With Hooker James Wilkinson winning all his own ball at the scrum and Richard Brambles winning plenty of line out ball Heath now had an abundance of ball with which to express themselves. Scrum Half Peter Birkett took a quick tap penalty 20 metres out and typically and intuitively darted for the try line with Hinchliffe’s conversion widening the gap to Heath 19 – Selby 8. Receiving the kick off Benjamin Crabtree broke 40 metres up field and from the ensuing scrum a cleverly worked run around move resulted in Stand off, Hinchliffe with a clear run to the try line and a score of Heath 24 – Selby 8. By this stage in the game Heath had made 6 changes, on were Brad Davis, Ben Coney Critchley, Jordan Moana, Adam Parkinson, Jack Sheldrake and Judd Fairbank. It was a testament to the strength in depth in this champion side that not a beat was missed in the continuity and fluidity of the attacking rugby on display. With several powerful surges from Rondene Johnson, Fergus Marsden and Lewis McKenzie second try’s came to Birkett’s, Hinchliffe and with the final try to Pollard it was fitting that the successful final dropped kicked conversion should be taken by talisman and “Leader from the front” and Captain of 5 years, Stephen Hare to bring a close to the final game of the season and with it the final game together of a very successful team of outstandingly talented young men. A true credit to their Coach and their Club. Final Score Heath 45 – 8 Selby. In the last 2 seasons Coach Giles Hetherington’s Heath Colts have won the Yorkshire Plate, the Yorkshire Division One League, the North of England Cup and got to the last four in the National Cup an amazing accomplishment for any team.