Sandal 14 Selby 12
Sandal got back to winning ways in a close fought encounter against rival title chasers Selby with the result in doubt until the final stages of the match. Selby elected to play up the slope but the home side were first into their stride with full back Chris Reakes striking a long range penalty to give his side the lead on three minutes. With the two sides matching each other in general play Selby levelled when fly half Porter kicked a straight forward penalty following pressure in the home twenty two. The two contrasting styles of play with Sandal keeping possession in hand and Selby kicking for position nullified each other until the final play of the half when scrum half Max Whittingham broke clear from a lineout near half way and fed winger Dan McCormack who crossed in the corner to give his side a five point lead at the break.
Although scoring opportunities were limited in the second half the game was full of tension and Selby took the lead with fly half Porter kicking two penalties following Sandal indiscretions at the ruck. In the final quarter Sandal looked likely to cross the whitewash when they broke from their own line but centre Danny Mitchell was hauled down yards short but they were rewarded with three points from full back Chris Reakes when the visitors killed the ball in front of the posts. Selby were not beaten yet, though, and continued to press and took the lead on sixty five minutes when Porter again kicked a long range penalty when Sandal were penalised for holding on in a ruck. However with five minutes of the match remaining home scrum half Max Whittingham broke clear superbly from a scrum on half way leaving the cover in his wake and when he was hauled down Selby were again penalised for slowing play down as they attempted to re-organise their defence. Chris Reakes stepped up to convert a pressure kick to give his side the lead and retain top spot in the league.
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