Page 13 - The Swan CV Edition 4 April 2020

1995 YORKSHIRE SHIELD WINNERS
ANNIVERSARY RECOLLECTIONS
from the children’s film “Never Ending Story”, to convince the team that the only thing stopping us winning the Shield that day would be our own self-doubt. When we got to Clifton Park it was a pig of a day with a strong wind straight down the York slope and heavy rain thrown in. I have always called tails at the toss of the coin and fortunately it landed the right way up, allowing me to elect to play against the elements in the First Half. What a start we made as well, a silky break by Martin Bramley putting Taff Smith in for a score uphill against the wind inside the first few minutes and settling nerves quickly. As expected the rest of the half was a bit of a war of attrition but, as in previous rounds, our resolve was firm and a tremendous effort enabled us to restrict Beverley to just 8 points despite their overwhelming territorial advantage.
At only 5-8 down, the half time talk was fairly upbeat and it was up to us to go out and win the Shield by showing our full range of skills, Forwards and Backs alike. With everything in our favour and the bit between our teeth, we made the perfect start, rattling up 12 points early in the half through tries by Jamie Pocklington and Andy Holmes, one of which I managed to convert despite the swirling wind. From then on we were in the driving seat and further tries to Toby Pemberton and a second for Taff Smith plus a late penalty meant that, despite their best efforts and a converted try and a penalty, Beverley were never really in the hunt once we got our
noses in front. Most people cannot wait for the Final Whistle, but I honestly felt that day that it wouldn’t matter when it went, Beverley would never catch us. Never has the bath water at York tasted of Champagne like it did that day!
In an otherwise mediocre season, the Team certainly saved their best for the Shield run and a look at the make up of the team illustrates why, in 1995, the Selby team was more than a match for anybody else in the competition.
The scrummaging and ball skills shown by Mark Steward, Mark Crowther and Jamie Pocklington, the lineout prowess of Andy Jarvis, Kev Weston and Rich Hanley and the ball winning ability of Phil Wilson and Martin Parkin combined to give us a formidable Forward Unit. Behind them we had Matthew Smith’s pace and arrow like pass, Toby Pemberton and Andy Bennett doing the hard work in defence and creating space for our silky runners Martin Bramley, Andy Holmes and Taff Smith. Now perhaps you can appreciate why it was nigh on impossible for other members of our Shield Squad to force their way into the team. Oh yes, I turned out a bit too and guess I managed to point them in the right direction, put them into the right areas of the pitch and encouraged them to express their undeniable skills when it mattered most.
Ray Adamson – Captain in 1995, Author in 2008 and Ex-President and Club Secretary today
Keep up to date with all latest club news at www.selbyrufc.club
13