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Sat 29 Apr 2023
Selby
Social Rugby
15:00
Kendal Social’s Tour to Selby RUFC: April 2023
Craig Ross3 May 2023 - 18:00
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A great tour, well organised, enjoyed by all and as the saying goes ‘The real winner was rugby!’
A first visit over to Selby, our 2022 visitors to Mint Bridge, we left in obligatory colourful shirts late Friday afternoon on the TransPennine Express. After an enjoyable and extremely social trip over the Pennines, we booked into our hotel and started a relaxed stroll around Leeds, taking in the both the impressive architecture and quality refreshments on the way.
After a hearty breakfast eaten ‘with a spoon’, we donned our themed tour attire of Knights of King Arthur and set off for Selby. We were met at the station by, amongst others, Selby’s Chairman James Abrams and transferred without delay to their impressive Sandhill Lane ground. Three touring teams were in attendance: a Colts side from Treorchy, Whitley Bay Rockcliff and ourselves. Due to a lack of fit and willing players it was decided to join forces with Whitley Bay and to play a combined home team.
Played over four 20-minute quarters, it proved to be a competitive and full-blooded encounter. Cheered on by our very own King Arthur Perie, Selby kicked off to the roar of the visiting support. With the kick-off not going the obligatory 10 metres, KenRock opted for a scrum on halfway, from which Kie Hitchcox broke blind on a storming run, only to be dragged down near the home side’s 5 metre line.
John Ladell playmaking at fly-half struck up an instant rapport with Whitley’s Mike Hansen, who along with club stalwart Ian Voortman, asked questions of the home defence all afternoon. Eschewing conversions, much to the approval of the large voluble crowd, play was frantic and fast-paced. Rhys Hennedy Otway showed great pace and commitment out on the wing alongside Oliver Newhouse who displayed good inter passing. This combined with the more subtle dark arts conjured up by forwards Warren Tilsley and Mike Capstick, saw KenRock just in front at half-time.
With agreed rolling subs, fresh legs in the form of Liam Oldham, Josh Cook and Rob Tilsley added zip to proceedings and on his 42nd birthday, Liam Hayton belied his years with a barnstorming display. Craig Hine took time off his tour organising duties and made some telling runs and Adrian Bland provided his usual obdurate defence. Media and skills coach James Bracken barked out instructions and dished out 10 press-ups for any dropped balls.
The visiting ref blew for no-side, which signalled the end of the game and the start of the evening’s fun and games. Selby RUFC proved to be consummate hosts, aided by the large, good-natured crowd who’d enjoyed the perfect weather and the players’ commitment to running rugby, while they quaffed ale, conversed and had a night that will live long in the memory.
Leaving our hosts, we set off bound for York to enjoy a relaxed meander around the medieval walls, to explore both the architecture and the local hostelries. Returning Sunday morning for many, the excitement of all that was sampled and savoured over the two days, the May Day Bank Holiday was a most welcome bonus.
After a hearty breakfast eaten ‘with a spoon’, we donned our themed tour attire of Knights of King Arthur and set off for Selby. We were met at the station by, amongst others, Selby’s Chairman James Abrams and transferred without delay to their impressive Sandhill Lane ground. Three touring teams were in attendance: a Colts side from Treorchy, Whitley Bay Rockcliff and ourselves. Due to a lack of fit and willing players it was decided to join forces with Whitley Bay and to play a combined home team.
Played over four 20-minute quarters, it proved to be a competitive and full-blooded encounter. Cheered on by our very own King Arthur Perie, Selby kicked off to the roar of the visiting support. With the kick-off not going the obligatory 10 metres, KenRock opted for a scrum on halfway, from which Kie Hitchcox broke blind on a storming run, only to be dragged down near the home side’s 5 metre line.
John Ladell playmaking at fly-half struck up an instant rapport with Whitley’s Mike Hansen, who along with club stalwart Ian Voortman, asked questions of the home defence all afternoon. Eschewing conversions, much to the approval of the large voluble crowd, play was frantic and fast-paced. Rhys Hennedy Otway showed great pace and commitment out on the wing alongside Oliver Newhouse who displayed good inter passing. This combined with the more subtle dark arts conjured up by forwards Warren Tilsley and Mike Capstick, saw KenRock just in front at half-time.
With agreed rolling subs, fresh legs in the form of Liam Oldham, Josh Cook and Rob Tilsley added zip to proceedings and on his 42nd birthday, Liam Hayton belied his years with a barnstorming display. Craig Hine took time off his tour organising duties and made some telling runs and Adrian Bland provided his usual obdurate defence. Media and skills coach James Bracken barked out instructions and dished out 10 press-ups for any dropped balls.
The visiting ref blew for no-side, which signalled the end of the game and the start of the evening’s fun and games. Selby RUFC proved to be consummate hosts, aided by the large, good-natured crowd who’d enjoyed the perfect weather and the players’ commitment to running rugby, while they quaffed ale, conversed and had a night that will live long in the memory.
Leaving our hosts, we set off bound for York to enjoy a relaxed meander around the medieval walls, to explore both the architecture and the local hostelries. Returning Sunday morning for many, the excitement of all that was sampled and savoured over the two days, the May Day Bank Holiday was a most welcome bonus.
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