YORK RUFC celebrated 50 years at Clifton Park with a 25-7 victory against local rivals Selby in Yorkshire One.

York, who are now fifth in the table, opened the scoring on eight minutes after Selby were penalised for an infringement at a ruck in the middle of the field. A kick to touch, a line-out drive, and two tight phases sent scrum-half Ben Johnson on his way for a try.

York then conceded two penalties but Josh Cruise, the Selby fullback, missed a kick at goal with the first. The second penalty gave Selby good field position. Scrum-half James Fox found a big gap at the side of a centre-field ruck and ran through without a defensive hand laid on him to give Selby a 7-5 lead.

Selby continued to attack. Josh Cruise gaining them field-advantage with a heavy left boot. They were awarded a penalty five metres from the York try line but chose a scrum and were over-powered and penalised, spurning the opportunity to add points and maintain momentum.

After thirty minutes a game pattern emerged and Selby were given the first of five yellow cards. Cruise was sent to the sin bin after obstructing York wing Will Dunlop.

Nearing half time, with Selby’s back line depleted, George Davies chipped the ball over the defence and Neil McClure capitalised on the bounce of the ball to score York’s second try. McClure added the conversion to give York a 12-7 lead at halftime.

The game was still finely balanced but, as the second half progressed, York, inspired by captain Chris Fox, became more dominant at the line-out.

Five minutes into the second half, York stole a Selby line-out ball and advanced play to midfield where Selby were penalised for obstruction. McClure scored with the long penalty kick to make it 15-7.

York stole another line-out and inside-centre Gareth Singleton made fifteen metres running with the ball. Selby conceded two penalties in quick succession and the second one resulted in James Fox receiving a yellow card. McClure was successful with the kick to make it 18-7.

Selby’s third yellow card came after sixty minutes. They won their own line-out but went backwards. York attacked from the clearance kick and won a penalty, Selby’s number four identified as the transgressor.

Handling errors from both sides followed. Singleton continued to run straight lines in to contact, Chris Fox continued to secure York line-out ball and prop Daz Rutherford was able to carry the ball forward.

With 10 minutes to play, York were now kicking to touch when awarded a penalty, trying to exploit their numerical advantage and their efficient line-out to achieve a four-try bonus point.

Singleton found contact in the Selby midfield and was supported by open-side flanker,Campbell Thomson. There was no line-break but York got another penalty and Selby were given their fourth yellow card.

After 80 minutes, the game was petering out but there was still time for another York try.

Winger Hugh Nicholson made a clean break from just inside the Selby half, chipped through the last line of defence and Ben Johnson ran in for his second try of the game. He also converted to make it 25-7.

Selby got their fifth yellow when flanker John Dawes connected with a hard running Dunlop to put more pressure on the Selby try line. A penalty was given, the ball was kicked away by Selby, and the card was shown. York were then penalised themselves and the match was over.

Selby dropped to eighth in the table.