Selby dominated from the off with the backs running at the Castleford defence and winning a line-out on the Castleford 10 yard line. Selby then won a penalty which was taken quickly for the forwards and backs to combine which allowed Henry Levett to score the first try after 5 minutes. George Stoker converted (7/0). Selby continued to dominate as Will Dennis carried well to set up a ruck won by the forwards allowing Harry Cruise to put in a long kick for his backs to chase. Castleford won the ensuing line-out but Dylan Tonks broke through to charge down the attempted kick. Selby were awarded a scrum inside the 22, but Castleford defended well. Play then moved freely between the 22 metre lines as both sets of forwards tried to set up their backs. Selby then returned a long kick ahead by Castleford which Sam Bunce did well to recover and drive forward. Selby claimed a Castleford line-out to set up a try by George Dobson-Wright, converted by George Stoker in the 17th minute (14/0). Selby then rucked a Castleford ball which Charlie Fothergill took at speed to drive at the Castleford defence. Excellent handling by Edward Kelly as Selby won the ensuing scrum saw him change direction with a planned move to pass to James Cook at speed and good angle to run through the opposition defence to score a try converted by George Stoker in the 24th minute (21/0). Selby then camped on the Castleford line and only strong defence over the line prevented a further try. However, it soon came as the forwards released the backs who showed good handling skills to release James Cook on the wing. The resulting high tackle earned Selby a penalty try, converted by George Stoker in the 28th minute (28/0). Selby continued to dominate with long kicks chased by the backs who won a scrum. Again Selby dominated and the backs and forwards combined well to release Dylan Tonks to score a fine try converted by George Stoker in the 30th minute (35/0). Selby looked like adding to the tally as Charlie Fothergill took the ball from the kick-off and forced Castleford back to their 5 metre line. All the play remained in that area until the half-time whistle.
Both teams made changes at half-time with Castleford bolstering the back division. Selby, unusually for them, lost the first ruck which released Castleford to take the ball to within 5 metres of the Selby line. The Castleford seemed to catch Selby unawares as they drove over to score their first converted try after 3 minutes of the half. From then on Selby seemed on the back-foot as Castleford drove the ball forward with their backs handling well. But for Sam Bunce a second try would have been scored but he managed to hold them up over the line. Selby had to defend resolutely and it took relieving kicks from Leon Spowage to force them back. Castleford mounted continuous attacks winning scrums and penalties and, again, it took a relieving kick by Leon Spowage to put Selby into the Castleford half for the first time in 15 minutes. Selby tried to take the game to them, but Castleford intercepted and kicked ahead to win a penalty for a late tackle. They ran the ball and with good handling skills scored another try in the 20th minute (35/12). Selby then came back into the game winning scrums and a penalty. However, Castleford collected a long kick-ahead and ran at Selby to set up another try ten minutes later (35/19). Again, Selby tried to take the game to Castleford but they defended well and won good ruck ball to go over for their final try at the close. (35/24).
This was certainly a ‘game of two halves’ and one for Selby to contemplate as the build for the rest of the season.