MATCH PREVIEW: Selby 1st XV vs Pontefract RUFC
Regional 2 North East | Saturday 21 March 2026, 3:00pm | Sandhill Lane
The Swans are back on home turf this afternoon as they welcome Pontefract to Sandhill Lane in what promises to be a highly significant fixture in the Regional 2 North East play-off race.
Selby currently sit 5th in the table with 57 points, with Moortown just three points behind them in 6th — meaning every result from here counts. The top four earn play-off spots, so with Old Brodleians (4th, 58 pts) only a point ahead, the Swans are well within striking distance. This is very much a must-win afternoon if the play-off push is to remain credible.
The men from Pontefract arrive in 10th place with 41 points, sitting below Selby by 16 points Selbyrufc, making this on paper a very winnable home fixture. However, anyone who has watched rugby long enough knows that local Yorkshire derbies rarely follow form, and Pontefract will arrive with nothing to lose and plenty to prove.
Selby head into this one in confident mood. Last time out saw a commanding 61–14 victory away at Doncaster Phoenix, with tries from J Reid, T Gabel, A Dolat, N Athraby, H Tunningley (who bagged a hat-trick), A Wilson and O Parsonage. That kind of attacking intent and clinical finishing is exactly what is needed as the season enters its final stretch.
The reverse fixture earlier in the season gave Selby plenty of encouragement — the Swans ran out 19–10 winners away at Pontefract back in November, so Selby know they have the measure of today's visitors.
Recent home form has been a real strength, with the club's website noting a "strong home performance keeping the play-off push on track" back in February StadiumDB, and the Swans will be looking to make Sandhill Lane a fortress again today.
With fixtures against Bradford Salem and Malton and Norton still to come, the squad knows the season is absolutely alive — but dropping points this afternoon against a side they should beat would be a costly blow. The crowd's backing could make all the difference.
Come on you Swans!
MATCH PREVIEW: Selby 1st XV vs Pontefract RUFC
Regional 2 North East | Saturday 21 March 2026, 3:00pm | Sandhill Lane
The Swans are back on home turf this afternoon as they welcome Pontefract to Sandhill Lane in what promises to be a highly significant fixture in the Regional 2 North East play-off race.
Selby currently sit 5th in the table with 57 points, with Moortown just three points behind them in 6th — meaning every result from here counts. The top four earn play-off spots, so with Old Brodleians (4th, 58 pts) only a point ahead, the Swans are well within striking distance. This is very much a must-win afternoon if the play-off push is to remain credible.
The men from Pontefract arrive in 10th place with 41 points, sitting below Selby by 16 points Selbyrufc, making this on paper a very winnable home fixture. However, anyone who has watched rugby long enough knows that local Yorkshire derbies rarely follow form, and Pontefract will arrive with nothing to lose and plenty to prove.
Selby head into this one in confident mood. Last time out saw a commanding 61–14 victory away at Doncaster Phoenix, with tries from J Reid, T Gabel, A Dolat, N Athraby, H Tunningley (who bagged a hat-trick), A Wilson and O Parsonage. That kind of attacking intent and clinical finishing is exactly what is needed as the season enters its final stretch.
The reverse fixture earlier in the season gave Selby plenty of encouragement — the Swans ran out 19–10 winners away at Pontefract back in November, so Selby know they have the measure of today's visitors.
Recent home form has been a real strength, with the club's website noting a "strong home performance keeping the play-off push on track" back in February StadiumDB, and the Swans will be looking to make Sandhill Lane a fortress again today.
With fixtures against Bradford Salem and Malton and Norton still to come, the squad knows the season is absolutely alive — but dropping points this afternoon against a side they should beat would be a costly blow. The crowd's backing could make all the difference.
Come on you Swans!
Good afternoon and welcome to Sandhill Lane as we host Pontefract RUFC in our latest Regional North East 2 fixture.
In this local derby, we’ll be hoping that home advantage—along with two wins from our last two games and our earlier victory away at Pontefract in difficult, rain-soaked conditions—will give us the momentum to come out on top. However, Pontefract will arrive full of confidence after a narrow defeat to Pocklington RUFC and two strong wins prior to that. Although they sit just below us in the table, recent results show that these encounters can go either way. Today’s referee is Simon Franks. It is my pleasure to welcome their players, supporters, and committee members to the club.
Our 2nd XV travel to Pontefract today, looking to avenge their early-season defeat and return to winning ways.
Tomorrow, our ladies’ team travel to Beverley RUFC, aiming to complete the double and maintain their push at the top of the league. Our Under 18 girls are in buoyant spirits following their recent cup final victory at Chesterfield—congratulations to them.
Best of luck to our Under 13 boys, who travel to Hull Ionians RUFC tomorrow for their cup final. Your support, as always, is greatly appreciated.
We remain extremely grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support. Today, we are pleased to welcome John Hick of Yorkshire Rhubarb to the Swan’s Nest. For the pre-match lunch, Nicholas Sykes from Openfield joins us with guests for their annual visit.
Looking ahead, our Sponsors’ Day will take place on Saturday 11th April, when we host Malton and Norton RUFC in our final home league fixture of the season. The President’s Dinner will follow on the evening of Friday 1st May, with a guest speaker from Cardiac Risk in the Young, who are also supporting the club by funding a cardiac screening day for players later this September.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of our mini section, their festival will be held on Sunday 26th April. Donations for the tombola and raffle prizes, as well as your support on the day, would be greatly appreciated.
I trust that all players and spectators will conduct themselves both on and off the field in a manner befitting the best traditions of rugby union, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the games here at Sandhill Lane.
Have a fantastic afternoon and enjoy your time at Selby RUFC.
Garry Adamson
Hon President
Selby Grind Out Derby Win in Rain-Soaked Battle at Pontefract
2nd December 2025
Moor Lane, Pontefract, was the short trip for Selby’s first team and supporters on Saturday—a local derby eagerly anticipated as the midpoint of the season approaches. Torrential rain overnight and persistent showers during the day put the contest in doubt, but a pitch inspection allowed the match to go ahead on the first-team field rather than the more distant second-team pitch.
From the outset, conditions dictated proceedings. The ball skidded across the surface, players were drenched within minutes, and high kicks and grubbers became the preferred tactics for both sides. Knock-ons were frequent as caution crept into the early exchanges.
Selby struck first. A chargedown just inside the ten-metre line saw Alex Webster follow up with two fly-hacks before scrum-half Harry Clarke added a third and grounded the ball for the opening try. His grin—barely visible beneath a magnificent Movember moustache—told the story. Charlie Bramley converted for a 7–0 lead after 12 minutes.
Selby’s forwards soon took control. Hola Vea punched holes with ball in hand, and James Hunt dominated the line-out. A booming touch-finder from Pontefract prop Anderson delighted the U15s watching from the stand, where they had earlier served lunch to raise funds for their upcoming tour.
Injuries and rotations came early. Laurence Taylor replaced Fin Wotton, and Joey Reid came on for Jack Todd as Selby kept the front-row tempo high. Pontefract responded with sustained pressure near the Selby line. After multiple penalties and scrums, Ryan Lamb was shown yellow, and the hosts crossed in the right-hand corner with the final play of the half.
At the break, Ben Poskitt replaced Clarke, shifting Archie Bennett to scrum-half. Continued infringements by Pontefract earned Anderson a yellow card, and Selby capitalised instantly. A quick tap penalty saw the forwards combine and drive over in the left corner, Antun Wilson emerging with the ball. The conversion from out wide drifted narrowly off target.
Straight from the restart, Selby’s pack surged 15 metres upfield. A penalty allowed a kick to the corner, and Todd’s throw to the middle was secured by Dolat. After an initial effort was held up, the forwards regathered and powered over again—Wilson claiming his second. Bramley added the extras, extending Selby’s lead to 19–5 with twenty minutes remaining.
Despite relentless rain, the pitch held firm, and the players’ shirts even retained their colours as the water washed the mud straight off. Both sides chased a bonus point late on. Pontefract went the length of the field through a pair of kicks, and Taylor saw yellow as Selby defended hard. Eventually the numbers told, and the hosts crossed for an unconverted try, closing the score at Selby 19, Pontefract 10.
It was a dour mid-table encounter, but an away derby win is always welcome—even if the spectacle wasn’t one for the purists. Selby now prepare to host an improving Bradford Salem at Sandhill Lane, fresh from handing Pocklington their first defeat of the season.
David Everatt
Good afternoon and welcome to Sandhill Lane as we host Pontefract RUFC in our latest Regional North East 2 fixture.
In this local derby, we’ll be hoping that home advantage—along with two wins from our last two games and our earlier victory away at Pontefract in difficult, rain-soaked conditions—will give us the momentum to come out on top. However, Pontefract will arrive full of confidence after a narrow defeat to Pocklington RUFC and two strong wins prior to that. Although they sit just below us in the table, recent results show that these encounters can go either way. Today’s referee is Simon Franks. It is my pleasure to welcome their players, supporters, and committee members to the club.
Our 2nd XV travel to Pontefract today, looking to avenge their early-season defeat and return to winning ways.
Tomorrow, our ladies’ team travel to Beverley RUFC, aiming to complete the double and maintain their push at the top of the league. Our Under 18 girls are in buoyant spirits following their recent cup final victory at Chesterfield—congratulations to them.
Best of luck to our Under 13 boys, who travel to Hull Ionians RUFC tomorrow for their cup final. Your support, as always, is greatly appreciated.
We remain extremely grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support. Today, we are pleased to welcome John Hick of Yorkshire Rhubarb to the Swan’s Nest. For the pre-match lunch, Nicholas Sykes from Openfield joins us with guests for their annual visit.
Looking ahead, our Sponsors’ Day will take place on Saturday 11th April, when we host Malton and Norton RUFC in our final home league fixture of the season. The President’s Dinner will follow on the evening of Friday 1st May, with a guest speaker from Cardiac Risk in the Young, who are also supporting the club by funding a cardiac screening day for players later this September.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of our mini section, their festival will be held on Sunday 26th April. Donations for the tombola and raffle prizes, as well as your support on the day, would be greatly appreciated.
I trust that all players and spectators will conduct themselves both on and off the field in a manner befitting the best traditions of rugby union, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the games here at Sandhill Lane.
Have a fantastic afternoon and enjoy your time at Selby RUFC.
Garry Adamson
Hon President
Selby Grind Out Derby Win in Rain-Soaked Battle at Pontefract
2nd December 2025
Moor Lane, Pontefract, was the short trip for Selby’s first team and supporters on Saturday—a local derby eagerly anticipated as the midpoint of the season approaches. Torrential rain overnight and persistent showers during the day put the contest in doubt, but a pitch inspection allowed the match to go ahead on the first-team field rather than the more distant second-team pitch.
From the outset, conditions dictated proceedings. The ball skidded across the surface, players were drenched within minutes, and high kicks and grubbers became the preferred tactics for both sides. Knock-ons were frequent as caution crept into the early exchanges.
Selby struck first. A chargedown just inside the ten-metre line saw Alex Webster follow up with two fly-hacks before scrum-half Harry Clarke added a third and grounded the ball for the opening try. His grin—barely visible beneath a magnificent Movember moustache—told the story. Charlie Bramley converted for a 7–0 lead after 12 minutes.
Selby’s forwards soon took control. Hola Vea punched holes with ball in hand, and James Hunt dominated the line-out. A booming touch-finder from Pontefract prop Anderson delighted the U15s watching from the stand, where they had earlier served lunch to raise funds for their upcoming tour.
Injuries and rotations came early. Laurence Taylor replaced Fin Wotton, and Joey Reid came on for Jack Todd as Selby kept the front-row tempo high. Pontefract responded with sustained pressure near the Selby line. After multiple penalties and scrums, Ryan Lamb was shown yellow, and the hosts crossed in the right-hand corner with the final play of the half.
At the break, Ben Poskitt replaced Clarke, shifting Archie Bennett to scrum-half. Continued infringements by Pontefract earned Anderson a yellow card, and Selby capitalised instantly. A quick tap penalty saw the forwards combine and drive over in the left corner, Antun Wilson emerging with the ball. The conversion from out wide drifted narrowly off target.
Straight from the restart, Selby’s pack surged 15 metres upfield. A penalty allowed a kick to the corner, and Todd’s throw to the middle was secured by Dolat. After an initial effort was held up, the forwards regathered and powered over again—Wilson claiming his second. Bramley added the extras, extending Selby’s lead to 19–5 with twenty minutes remaining.
Despite relentless rain, the pitch held firm, and the players’ shirts even retained their colours as the water washed the mud straight off. Both sides chased a bonus point late on. Pontefract went the length of the field through a pair of kicks, and Taylor saw yellow as Selby defended hard. Eventually the numbers told, and the hosts crossed for an unconverted try, closing the score at Selby 19, Pontefract 10.
It was a dour mid-table encounter, but an away derby win is always welcome—even if the spectacle wasn’t one for the purists. Selby now prepare to host an improving Bradford Salem at Sandhill Lane, fresh from handing Pocklington their first defeat of the season.
David Everatt
