Selby slipped deeper into relegation trouble when they were well beaten 36-20 at Wheatley Hills where they have yet to win.

The visitors were on the back foot for much of the first half conceding 29 points without reply by half-time.

After Toby Pemberton pulled a penalty wide after two minutes, Selby were under the cosh. Tries from prop Nigel Hoyle and stand-off Craig Barker, goaled by Ashley Hanson, yielded a 14-0 lead.

A Hanson penalty and then a conversion sandwiched a try from Paul Purnell after another Selby error. Jamie Pocklington was then yellow-carded for an alleged stamping offence and Hoyle crashed over for his second try.

When Pocklington came back on, Selby reduced the arrears when winger Phil Raffen kicked over the defence and touched down. He added the extras.

Raffen then kicked a brace of penalties to cut Hills' lead to 16 points. But then almost on the Hills line the ball was knocked out of Matthew Smith's hands for the hosts to surge away, scrum-half Ashley Pascoe touching down. Though Selby gained a last-gasp penalty try, Raffen again goaling, the visitors could not redeem that first half horror show.

Updated: 10:56 Monday, March 15, 2004