In what was, perhaps, the most important League match of the season, Selby gave a tremendous display, and ran out deserved 26-10 winners.

Old Crossleyans had no answer to Selby's loose forward play where their rolling mauls regularly made huge inroads into the Crossleyans defence.

After home full-back Phil Raffen missed two penalties, he finally sent one over. The hosts then had to wait until the 34th minute before increasing their lead. Scrum-half Matthew Smith fed winger Andy Gabel to crash over. Raffen kicked an excellent conversion. Another penalty from Raffen yielded a 13-0 half-time lead.

After another penalty, Crossleyans broke their duck with a long-range kick from Richard Jowett.

But Selby countered soon after, Smith's tap penalty leading to Duncan Phillips forcing his way over.

But the visitors countered with a move that spread-eagled Selby, Chris Seymour crossing for Jowett to tag on the extras.

Selby were still in the ascendancy with second row forward Cicero and number 8 Lowery making some tremendous charges into the opposition defence and Crossleyans unable to control the Selby rolling maul.

It wasn't until the seventh minute of added-on-time at the end of the half that Selby at last put some realism into the final score when they took a scrum against the head eight metres from the Crossleyans try line - Smith fed winger Gabel on the blind side who touched down in the corner - the conversion was missed by Raffen but Selby had the game won.

Selby are now two points ahead of Old Brodleians who lost at home to Wheatley Hills 28-9. Additionally Selby have a 44 points difference advantage over Brodleians. Yarnbury, the other club involved in the relegation fight beat Huddersfield YMCA 20-11.

If only two clubs are relegated from Yorkshire 1, this win gives Selby some breathing space in the fight against the drop.

And it also puts them in good heart for tomorrow when they play Old Crossleyans for the second time in four days in the Yorkshire Cup first round at Sandhill Lane.

The reward for the winners is a trip to either Scarborough or Redcar on April 20.

Updated: 09:56 Monday, April 05, 2004