Selby RUFC seek revenge for 2010 Yorkshire Shield final defeat (From York Press)

Selby RUFC seek revenge for 2010 Yorkshire Shield final defeat

10:11am Friday 4th May 2012 in Rugby Union By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

ANOTHER big upset is being plotted by Selby RUFC as they meet Bridlington in the final of the Yorkshire Shield on Sunday.

The giant-killing Swans will look to add their Yorkshire One opponents to a list of big name casualties they have knocked out of the competition this season – with Scarborough, Pocklington and Yorkshire Two champions Barnsley having fallen under the might of coach Richard Nicholson’s men.

Sunday’s final (kick off 2pm) at Hull is a repeat of the 2010 final at Driffield, where Selby led with ten minutes remaining before falling to an agonising defeat.

Although half a dozen members of that squad could be in contention for selection this time around, Nicholson says there are no scars from that defeat two years ago and believes his team are more than capable of beating a Bridlington outfit which finished fourth in Yorkshire One.

“We’ve beaten Scarborough and Pocklington as well as Barnsley, who I think will do well in Yorkshire One next season,” he said. “It is a question of doing everything to our maximum. If we do that, we have got a chance.

“We haven’t seen Brid this year but we have done a bit of homework on them. They’ve had a good season and we will give them plenty of respect. We have to play our own game and not be too star struck.”

As Selby contemplate another season in Yorkshire Two next year, Nicholson believes victory in the Yorkshire Shield will give the club a massive boost as they push for promotion next time.

“We have recruited quite well this year and we are very much building for the next two, three and four years,” he added.

“This would be a massive bonus. It’s an important competition. We still value it and, as results have gone, we have really focused on it quite a lot. Hopefully, we can go that step further. We are still a young team but these lads have got no fear.”

Nicholson said he hoped to be able to name a full strength squad and, with Yorkshire Shield rules allowing seven replacements, it will be a strong 22 that tries to bring the trophy back to Sandhill Lane.