Selby0

Yorkshire Shield

THE Seasiders progressed to the next round of the Yorkshire Shield after a comfortable victory over Selby.

As has been the norm this season, Bridlington failed to convert their superiority into a larger margin of victory as one or two scoring opportunities went begging.

Defensively, they kept a clean sheet for the first time this season, proving that organisation and discipline – with one exception – are paramount in winning games.

From the kick off, Bridlington failed to keep possession at the ruck and as Selby – third in Yorkshire One, three places above Bridlington – tried to move the ball wide, Muru, Bargh and Thundercliffe made tackles to force the visitors out and eventually to touch. The drive by the forwards was defended and a series of kicks were exchanged as both sides probed for territory.

Tackles by Hyde, Ridsdale and Craven resulted in turnover ball for Bridlington, the pack initiating the drive for Thomas to link with the backs where Muru’s chip was almost gathered but finally forced to touch.

Ridsdale was then yellow carded but solid defence by Bridlington kept Selby at bay with tackles by Grimshaw, Franks and Hyde. Warley and Muru tidied loose ball at the ruck and Selby were penalised for coming in at the wrong side. From the line out drive Thomas darted for the gap but was held short but at a later free kick, the quick tap by the scrum half and link with the supporting Warley resulted in the first try.

Stevens forced the error at the re-start forcing Selby to hurriedly clear. At a later line-out Lee tidied after a poor visitors throw to drive forward and following a Muru kick, Burrows chased to close down space in the Selby 22. Ridsdale in support forced the hurried kick and his charge down kept Bridlington in prime position.

The Bridlington pack was more solid at the set scrum than in their previous game for Franks and Thomas to link at the base. At the line-out, Hyde took a couple of the opposition’s throws for Bridlingtom to make ground and Craven, Grimshaw and Warley effectively controlled the drive. As Muru, Robinson and Bargh linked to feed Thundercliffe, he was held just short. Further drives by Muru, Bargh and Stevens were also held but from a five metre scrum the solid platform allowed Muru and Bargh to link for Robinson to hit the line at pace to score at the posts. Thomas converted for a 12-0 half time lead.

The second half saw Bridington again in the ascendency. A series of rucks saw Lee break with Thomas in support and his feed to Muru allowed the stand off to chip wide to the right where Stevens gathered to crash over for a 17-0 lead.

The hosts should have gone on to increase their lead but a few wrong options and a failure to use support players, who were in better positions, allowed Selby to defend in comfort.