Selby Warriors' hopes of promotion from Pennine League division five took a severe dent when a last-gasp drop goal gave the points in a dour game to close rivals Thornton.

The last-ditch winner was a kick in the teeth to a brave Selby outfit who had already had to bear the worst of a dreadful pitch, some awful weather, and controversial refereeing.

Thornton's sloping pitch is on top of Wyndy Ridge moor on the Pennines, and the 'wynd' was blowing straight down the field in gusts of up to 70mph.

As Selby played down the slope with the wind in the first they set about amassing as many points as possible.

However, stout Thornton tackling and the gale made attacking rugby difficult, with even the shortest of passes blown into oblivion, while the wind-chill factor left hands numb with cold.

After half-an-hour, all Selby had to show was a drop goal apiece from Mark Hanson and Wayne Fennell, until centre Hanson crashed through a double-tackle ten yards out with enough momentum to carry him to the line. He even kicked the goal from near the touchline.

The lead was set to be extended as scrum-half Fennell broke clear and rounded the full-back - only to put his foot down a pothole and tackle himself 25 yards short. The bizarre incident probably cost Selby the match.

Amazingly, the weather worsened in the second half - with horizontal hails blowing into Selby faces.

Thornton had forced their way over for a try by the time the ice heavens opened, at which point it became difficult to stand, let alone mind tackle.

Selby maintained their resistance but then the referee awarded Thornton a penalty bang in front of the posts, which made it 8-6.

Against all the odds Selby forced their way upfield and almost defied the blizzard when Carl Bardauskas and Sean Barker were held up just short.

It still looked like both points were on their way to Selby until Thornton levelled with another controversial penalty with just three minutes left.

Then on the next play, cold Selby hands fumbled the ball and Thornton got the one-pointer to win it.

Bardauskas was Selby's man of the match, but coach Kev Fellows praised all those who turned out.

Leaders York Acorn 'A' moved a step closer to the title with a workmanlike 20-6 win at lowly Victoria Rangers 'A'.

On a small boggy pitch, Acorn were always in control thanks to teenage prop Jason Harper, who was man of the match, second-rower Stephen Waldron, who grabbed a brace of tries, and hooker Fran Starkey.

Acorn's 13th win of the campaign was secured with further tries from loose-forward Ben Hodgson, who also kicked two goals, and winger Matt Embleton.

York Groves' mathematical chances of promotion all but faded after they lost 36-4 at Bank Top Harriers, who are destined for a mid-table finish.

Updated: 11:03 Tuesday, February 10, 2004