On Saturday the Brods welcomed Selby, who had returned to Regional NE2 following a tight relegation battle which went down to the last game of last season. Brods know the visitors well and know they are always particularly strong in the
backs and play a cavalier brand of open football. This season the visitors have found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard several times, narrowly losing again to the leagues’ better teams, notably losing by a single point to Pocklington last week.

Josh Kelly got proceeding away kicking off down the slope, under a wintry sky but promising dry conditions on the immaculately prepared pitch. A healthy crowd was in good voice. The initial kick was gathered by the visitors’ big men who drove up field, going through the phases when a ‘nothing’ kick ricocheted favourably toward the advancing visitor’s backline where from 50 yards Selby showed what they could do and touched down in the top left-hand corner. Extras added 0-7 after 2 minutes with the Brods not having touched the ball. From the kick off Selby set up their platform and attacked once more burly forwards making good yardage uphill stretching the Brods. Unsurprisingly the home side conceded a penalty for offside under the posts. Selby elected to go for the points and a scruffy looking kick sneaked over making the score 0–10 to the visitors after 5 minutes. From the following kick off Selby were off again up field, their threequarters looking impressive and soon were in the Brods half where Brods conceded a line out some 30 metres from their own line. The Selby line out appeared lost when a Brods hand knocked the ball back toward the home side, but an alert Selby back rower was first to the ball and toe ended it to the Brods line where surprisingly he outpaced the Brods defence to score. Conversion missed, but at 0 – 15 to the visitors after 10 minutes played up the slope, this set the alarm bells ringing in the home camp.

The next phase saw Brods getting more into the game with their forwards, notably Ashton, driving hard. The Brods backs were at last looking more dangerous but on the next play the ball was lost and once more the Selby backs broke and headed up field where inexplicably the ball was lost forward near half way. It was collected by young Brods’ winger Leo Kemp, who was facing his own line but skipped round on-rushing tacklers and raced downfield, before putting on the afterburners to outpace the Selby backs on the outside and score a magnificent solo try. Conversion missed taking the score to 5-15 after only 15 minutes played and the Brods faithful in the stand were feeling more relieved.

Selby continued their open style of played but Brods were now capitalising on their opportunities. Slick passing between Dunne and Barron saw play move back in to the visitors’ half with the ball travelling across the Brods backline and back, where a deft Kelly grubber kick enabled Dunne to gather and cross for a well worked try. The conversion was narrowly missed by Kelly but at 10 – 15 after 20 minutes it was ‘game on’ for the Brods. It was all Brods at this stage with their backs running the show.

Barron made a fine run down the left wing only to be brought back for a Selby infringement. From the penalty and ensuing line-out the home forwards drove for the line, but after a couple of forays it was young Kemp who scampered through for his second try of the afternoon. Another narrowly missed conversion left the score at 15 apiece after 26 minutes played.

At this stage Alex Murphy entered the fray substituting the dependable Joe Sealey. The Brods forwards continued to press, looking for the try which would give them a half time lead. A period of ‘long- kick’ exchanges followed which Selby appeared to benefit from but conceded a penalty on the Brods 22 for not releasing the ball. The Brods forwards now had the upper hand and the line-out from the ensuing kick followed by a forward drive took play to the Selby 22 where a Brods infringement led to a Selby scrum which collapsed under the pressure of the home pack. From the penalty play was driven to within 5 metres of the Selby line and then driven over the line for a score by the mobile Brods pack. Inexplicably Josh narrowly missed the conversion though the Brods were now ahead 20-15 with this fourth and bonus point try. It stayed that way until half time, where although 4 tries had been scored, there was only a narrow lead to show for the home superiority leaving all to play for in the second half.

The second half began with a kick deep into the Brods’s 22 where forward drives uphill brought play back into Selby territory. Expansive back play saw the ball spread across the line to mercurial winger Kemp who, although appearing covered, handed off his opposite number and raced clear to score in the top right-hand corner. Once again Kelly narrowly missed the conversion but at 25 – 15 to the Brods, after 43 minutes, they were now in full control.
From the restart Kelly sent the ball into Selby's
half once more with a towering kick to the clubhouse end. From the Selby line out, Dawson, who was having an outstanding game, caught the throw and burst through the Selby line to charge some 20 metres before passing sweetly to the supporting Murphy. When this move fizzled out Dawson recaptured the ball and drove forward again. Wroot was having an excellent game also, almost scoring at the back of the scrum on several occasions. The Brods forwards were having a field day. On the next drive the ball was slowed down sufficiently for Ben Barron to race in at speed and touch down for the Brods’ 6th try of the afternoon. The conversion taken from under the Selby posts was converted by Kelly, bringing one of the biggest cheers of the afternoon, albeit ironic. The score was now 32-15 to the Brods approaching the last quarter, having scored 32 unanswered points.

A combination of the Brods tiring and Selby fighting for lost pride saw Selby gain the initiative for the next 10 minutes. It was mainly Selby holding the initiative, now with Selby imposing constant pressure on the Brods line. The sure- footed Kelly’s towering ‘field gun’ clearances suddenly began to look difficult to execute, and Brods were locked in their own 22 for many phases. Inevitably after a couple of Selby converted tries, taking the score to 32-29, some pressure was being applied to the home side for the last 5 minutes. However, a home scrum uphill near the visitors’ line saw that man, Cam Wroot, crash over for a try from his position at the middle of the back row. It was appropriate that it should be Wroot, who, now leaner and fitter, managed to turn the clock back to deliver a performance typical of his hey- day, and which has been missed in the last couple of years. Never in doubt.