Alnwick made the long journey south from the North East for their first ever visit to Sandhill Lane. Selby looking at full strength with Max Wotton and Sam Broughton returning to the starting 15, Liam Hogan likewise, on the bench, with fellow forwards Tom Scholefield and Jack Todd.

The game started badly for the young Swans as after 10 minutes Alnwick’s captain, Urn, carved through the midfield and set up centre Robson who touched down near the posts. On 15 minutes the visitor’s forwards and backs combined and Alnwick scored again for a second try that was again converted by scrum half Blackett.

Selby then got in to the game as play became more even, the rugby on show way better than the league table showed between the bottom two sides. Alex Webster showing his undoubted class as he breezed through a gap in midfield drawing three men before Ben Poskitt ghosted in off his left shoulder on a diagonal run to score under the posts. Henry Wright kicking the conversion, 14-7 to Alnwick after 20 minutes.

Selby’s forwards then came under pressure in the tight exchanges from a well organised visitors eight and two tries were scored with Blackett kicking excellent conversions. Inspiration was required and skipper Webster provided this, dumping his opponent Cuthbert on the deck to get the crowd on its feet. Alnwick managing to retain possession with Cuthbert then almost putting the ball in to the Swans Nest where match day sponsors, Burn Cricket Club, would undoubtedly have caught the ball.

Webster then made another crunching tackle which referee Hurdley harshly adjudged a tip tackle before he had even had chance to complete it and was yellow carded on 31 minutes. The visitors scoring a converted try from the resulting penalty.

With two minutes to half time and the hosts hanging on for the break, a penalty was conceded and Liam Hogan, who had come on to provide some stubborn resistance and ball carrying threat, questioned the decision and was also carded 35-7 to the visitors at half time.

Down to thirteen, Alnwick scored another try before Webster returned. Selby came back fighting on the restart retaining possession and kicking to the 22 metre line in front of the clubhouse. A line out win for Selby seeing the ball to stand off Henry Wright, who dummied his opposite number and advancing back row forwards and go on a diagonal run and finish in the far left hand corner for a try he was unable to convert.

Alnwick replied with a try immediately that was converted by Blackett. Selby gained parity for a spell with all replacements on and rolling substitutions used to good effects. Ibbetson Wotton and Townend to the fore as Selby’s pack worked hard to provide good retained possession. Alnwick’s blind side flanker eventually seeing yellow as Selby attacked the visitors tryline. A penalty kick to touch and the line out claimed before Wright put in a cross field kick for Charlie Bramley to touch down in the corner.

Alnwick scoring the final points on 64 minutes with a try with Blackett missing his only conversion of the afternoon to leave the score Selby 19 Alnwick 54. The light falling away on a miserable afternoon, the final 15 minutes played in the middle of the pitch.

Next week the firsts and seconds travel to York for the first time for a number of years with a combined 3rd & 4th team travelling to the same venue on Friday night for a 7.30 pm KO. York beating leaders Scunthorpe last weekend to go second in the table.

A local derby weekend with a David vs Goliath feel. Clifton Park the most appealing venue in York compared to McArthur Glen or Clifton Moor retail parks.