GAMES between Selby and Pontefract are always close and Saturday's proved no different as the sides drew 10-10 in Yorkshire One.

Leaders Pontefract would have been favourites, but form counts for little in derbies between these two. Indeed, in 15 fixtures since leagues began in rugby union in 1987, Selby and Pontefract had both won seven with one draw prior to last weekend, with an overall points difference of only plus-four to Selby.

Selby deserved to add to their tally after a magnificent second-half performance against the elements, but they were pegged back by a late try.

They had the strong wind in their favour in the first half but, despite starting in determined fashion, making deep inroads with a series of rolling mauls, Selby were not dominating the game and Pontefract always looked dangerous running the ball.

Nevertheless, the first scoring opportunity fell to Selby in 14th minute when Pontefract were punished for going over the top. Paul Scott hit the crossbar with the tricky penalty and, despite a knock-on from the rebound by Pontefract under the posts, Selby failed to profit from the ensuing pressure.

Pontefract drew first blood when, in the 23rd minute, following good pressure down the Selby right, a rolling maul following a successful Pontefract lineout on the five-metre line ended with hooker Andy Merkin touching down near the corner. Andy Dean missed the almost impossible conversion attempt against the wind.

Selby came back strongly, penning Pontefract in their own 22 and it was from this pressure that Selby levelled, when, from a scrum and excellent loose play, the ball was spread the width of the pitch to create an overlap for hooker Shane Sellers to dive over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Pontefract were expected to take charge after the break with the wind advantage, but Selby produced an outstanding display.

Within a minute of the restart they stunned Pontefract by taking the lead with a superbly engineered try. A series of forward rushes took play to the Pontefract ten-metre line, and play went to the blind side where Mathew Smith fed prop Mark Tomlinson, who dived in at the corner for his second try in consecutive games. Paul Scott's conversion attempt was blown off course.

Selby were playing the short game, keeping the ball in hand and starving Pontefract of possession. On the occasions they knocked on, they defended resolutely and regularly turned over possession.

They forced most of the play into the middle channel, with both sides occasionally breaking into the other's 22. It was from one such foray that Selby promised to score their third try after an excellent three-quarter move but the ball was knocked on just short.

Victory was close but in the 79th minute, and after constant Pontefract pressure, the ball was switched left where insufficient cover enabled Ponte winger Richard Oates to equalise. Dean's conversion attempt narrowly missed.

This game illustrated that Yorkshire One is generally a tight, competitive league. Selby slipped to 10th but only four points separate nine of the 12 clubs.

Updated: 12:18 Monday, December 01, 2003