Confident Brods win again

Two tries in each half did the trick for Brods, who were belatedly completing a first Yorkshire One double of the season, having won 24-16 at Sandhill Lane in late November.

The Woodhead men were staring relegation in the face at the end of January but they have turned things around in impressive fashion and this was their fourth win in a row.

Their new-found confidence was apparent from the word go in damp, blustery conditions.

With hard-running No 8 Rob Jennings showing the way, they played all the good rugby and were never in danger of conceding a try.

Brods were at their best facing the slope in the first half, switching off to a certain extent after banking their four-try bonus point on 64 minutes.

Early runs from Phil Town and Jamie McLaughlin got them on the front foot and good support play produced a try after five minutes, Sterling Ross’s pass sending fellow forward James Ogden over from close range. Dan Wood converted.

Penalties at the breakdown allowed Selby’s accomplished marksman Josh Cruise to thump over penalties on seven and 11 minutes but Wood’s boot made it 10-6 following a barnstorming run from Jennings.

Excellent passing and support play yielded a second try for the home side on 23 minutes, fullback Matty Hoyle weaving his way past the remaining defenders for an unconverted score.

Cruise’s third penalty followed, from just inside the Brods half, but the visitors’ decision to keep going for goal rather than kick penalties to the corner failed to pay dividends in the closing 13 minutes of the first half.

The left-footer surprisingly missed with three long-range efforts and Brods turned round with a 15-9 lead and seemingly well placed to cut loose with the elements in their favour in the second 40 minutes.

It never really happened as they lost some of their earlier precision, particularly at the lineout where they twice missed opportunities to catch and drive from close to the Selby line.

Brods still had their moments, though, putting the game to bed after the early efforts of the Selby forwards to drive the ball up the slope.

Winger Anton Gaughan was bundled into touch 15 metres short but a concerted attack paid off on 55 minutes when impressive young flanker Brodie Wilson raced to the line. Wood’s conversion made it 22-9.

Winger Alex Brook completed the scoring in the right-hand corner after a couple of fellow backs had clung on to high passes as the ball was swung across the field.

Selby lost front rower Mark Tanner to the sin-bin six minutes from time and the game rather petered out with the mid-table visitors enjoying late possession but carrying no try threat.