A SUPERB opening 40 minutes underpinned Selby RUFC’s 25-10 toppling of Bridlington in Yorkshire One.

Ironically, Bridlington went in front as early as the third minute when Selby were penalised for holding on with winger Steve Mellonby kicking the penalty. But that’s as good as it got for Bridlington in the first half.

Just two minutes later Kiwi fly-half Cody Whittaker brought Selby level with a straightforward penalty after Bridlington were penalised for not releasing after the tackle.

Three mnore minutes in and the hosts took a lead they never relinquished.

Scrum-half Neil Francis stole the ball from a Bridlington scrum before releasing Whittaker who unleashed winger Jack Guest on a typical speedy burst.

Centre Alex Webster was on hand to finish off with a try under the posts for Whittaker to kick the easy conversion.

Selby went 13-3 ahead when the visitors were penalised for holding on. Full-back Josh Cruise licked an excellent 47-metre penalty.

Soon after, a kick deep into the Selby defence was safely gathered and spread wide to skipper and centre Dan Porter who sprinted through a gap in the Bridlington defence to set up Jack Guest for a marvellous try.

A Whittaker conversion was missed but Selby were in front 18-3 after only 15 minutes.

With the changing rooms alarm going off and incessant rain now falling and the sky lit up with lightning, mistakes from both sides started to creep in.

But Selby were still very much in the ascendency playing some excellent running rugby, though they failed to turn their pressure into points.

Bridlington had the opportunity to reduce their arrears when Selby were penalised for going in from the side after 39 minutes but Mellonby missed the penalty.

But Selby widened their lead in stoppage time with a marvellous Porter try under the posts after being given the opportunity by centre Webster.

Whittaker kicked the conversion for a 25-3 half-time advantage.

From the home support view, the second half was a massive disappointment as Selby failed to encroach into Bridlington territory until halfway through the final quarter of the game.

But conditions were difficult after the amount of rain which had fallen.

And the lack of home scores was reinforced by a new propensity to continually kick their possession away.

Bridlington were unable to find a way through the Selby defence for a consolation try until the last minute of the game.