League leaders pay the penalty
YORKSHIRE Two leaders Selby saw their seven-game winning sequence ended in frustrating fashion with a 17-16 defeat at West Leeds.
Selby were dominant in the scrum and lineout, in the forwards and also the backs against a second-placed West Leeds side who only showed glimpses of their true ability.
The home side caused particular problems out wide, where they went over twice through Porter and Ben Lunt.
But they paid the price for a high penalty count - and found themselves on the wrong end of some bewildering refereeing decisions - as West Leeds won by the narrowest of margins to move within three points of table-topping Selby.
Selby took an early lead with a penalty struck by Cruise from just inside the opposition’s half.
A period of kicking rugby from both sides then eventually settled down as the visitors constructed a try from deep in their own half for Porter to score.
Four minutes later Tom Burnell returned the favour for West Leeds, levelling the score at 8-8.
Moments before half time Selby stole the initiative again when man of the match Lunt rounded off a well worked try out wide.
But instead of leading 13-11 at the break, the dominant away side should have been out of sight before the second period.
And the home team took full advantage of Selby’s errors to turn the game on its head.
Cruise edged Selby further ahead with a penalty, only for West Leeds to then be awarded yet another penalty to keep the gap to within two points.
Selby’s supporters felt the inevitability of more penalties and true to form, in the 69th minute, West Leeds took a one point lead to take the lead and hold on for victory.
What should have been an exciting contest between two of the league’s form sides had instead been plagued by a bewildering number of unexplained penalties that left both sets of players and supporters confused - and it was Selby that suffered the most from this.
Over the coming weeks Selby will be working hard to lower its penalty count and work with officials to eliminate any inconsistencies they endure from week to week.
Selby, who have 34 points to their name after winning their first seven fixtures, hope to return to winning ways at home to mid-table West Park Leeds on Saturday (3pm).
Supporters are welcome.
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Weather for Selby
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
