SUPER Selby RUFC are closing in on Twickenham.

Their nail-biting 15-10 extra-time victory at South Leicester took them through to the quarter-finals of the Powergen Intermediate Cup - just two games from the final at rugby union HQ.

Roared on by a travelling contingent of 200 supporters, Selby finally saw off their hosts in the extra period with a try from stand-off Toby Pemberton.

Despite dominating large parts of the first half, Selby had only a 3-0 lead at the interval thanks to a Dan Porter penalty just before the half-hour mark.

Selby, who had to reshuffle their side because flanker Richard Nicholson was ruled out by illness, were soon on the attack thanks to excellent tactical kicking by Pemberton, Porter and Chris McDonald.

After Porter missed a penalty chance, Martin Protheroe broke through and No 8 Jamie Pocklington looked odds on to score but lost the ball and South Leicester were able to clear.

Desperate home defending kept Selby at bay but Porter, put the visitors in front with his third penalty attempt.

South Leicester started to get a toehold in the game and their stand-off Mark Lord pushed a penalty kick wide of the right-hand post. Then it needed a fine Andy Gabel tackle to deny a home score.

Leicester had been gritty in defence but were relieved when another Porter kick went wide.

Referee Adrian Holmes then yellow carded Gabel for handling in the ruck and South Leicester took advantage of their numerical advantage when centre Ben Voce scored a try converted by Lord in the 57th minute to give the homesters a 7-3 lead.

Another Porter penalty miss had Selby followers wondering if it was going to be their day. But with about ten minutes remaining South Leicester finally cracked with Selby skipper Andrew Pocklington getting the touchdown at full stretch in the corner after excellent work by replacement Kevin Lowery.

Porter added the extras to put Selby 10-7 up but with victory within their grasp Lowery was sin-binned for not rolling away after the tackle and Lord's last-minute kick in front of the posts took the game into extra time.

Tension mounted in the extra period with South Leicester's second row forward Paul Hayes yellow carded for killing the ball. But Porter's off day with the boot continued as he missed the penalty.

Selby were doing all the pressing against the 14 men and won the game in the 84th minute when Shaun Austerfield chipped over the defence on the 22-metre line, flanker Duncan Phillips hacked the ball over the line where Pemberton won the race to touchdown. Porter again missed a difficult conversion attempt but Selby were now looking solid as the home side's effort petered out.

Updated: 10:58 Monday, January 17, 2005