Despite being without several first choice players, Selby gave a spirited performance in their Yorkshire Cup second round 31-16 defeat at Redcar.

Only 17-16 behind midway through the second half they looked capable of upsetting the odds and going on to win. However, defensive lapses allowed Redcar to score two further tries and they will play a quarter final tie at Hull tomorrow night.

Redcar took the lead in the seventh minute, number 8 Mark Paulsen darting unopposed round the blind side to touch down in the corner. Stand-off Gareth Foreman kicked the conversion.

Dan Porter kicked a 32 metres penalty for Selby in the 24th minute. Three minutes later Gareth Foreman kicked a penalty. for Redcar. Porter kicked penalties in the 32nd minutes and second half.

Redcar centre Connolly touched down near the posts to give Foreman an easy conversion.

In the 55th minute Selby number 8 Duncan Phillips touched down in the corner and Porter kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline to bring Selby in range of Redcar at 17-13.

A Porter penalty in the 59th minute brought Selby to within a point of Redcar.

A minute later the Redcar centre Connolly was yellow carded for verbal abuse of the referee.

With John Kaye and Tom Bayston replacing Mark Tomlinson and Shane Sellers respectively it was all Selby.

A defensive error, however, turned the game in the 68th minute, when a high Redcar kick deep into the Selby half bounced kindly for the substitute Redcar winger Mathew Storey to catch the ball before evading two tackles to touch down for the try and Foreman kicked the conversion.

Redcar sealed victory in the 78th minute with Mark Paulsen's second try converted by Foreman.

Selby's season ends on Friday, April 30 with the annual Over 30s v Under 30s fixture.

Updated: 10:17 Monday, April 26, 2004