BLUNDERS in defence led to Selby losing 20-12 at home to Yarnbury in Yorkshire 1 despite having dominated the game for long spells.

With Rob Taylor unable to fulfil his selection at No 8 because of continuing shoulder problems, Wright Phillips switched to No 8, with Ed Sweeting filling the vacant second row slot. Kevin Lowery came on to the bench.

Selby controlled the first ten minutes of play, but had to make their first substitution when winger Tony Godfrey limped off to be replaced by Andy Bennett.

After 34 minutes Selby were caught offside in front of the posts. Yarnbury stand-off Steve Galbraith kicked the easy penalty and repeated the dose in the fifth minute of added time at the end of the first half, giving Yarnbury a 6-0 lead.

Selby started the second half at a ferocious pace, pegging Yarnbury in their own 22 for most of the first 20 minutes.

Flanker Richard Nicholson had to go off because of a shoulder injury and was replaced by Kevin Lowery.

Selby scored in the 54th minute. A tap penalty on the Yarnbury five metre line enabled the ensuing rolling maul to take hooker Tom Bayston over the line for a classic forward's try. Toby Pemberton failed with the conversion.

Nine minutes later, with Selby pressing, Yarnbury's Galbraith kicked deep into the Selby half from his own 22-metre line and Selby's backs dropped the ball under the posts which Yarnbury winger John Bramham gathered and scored a gift try under the posts. Galbraith converted to make it 13-5.

In the 71st minute Selby skipper Andrew Pocklington scored a try which Pemberton converted to put the home side within one point of the visitors.

Yarnbury second row forward Chris Wray was yellow carded for dissent and constant 'back-chat' to the referee. But Selby wasted the advantage.

Five minutes later, with Selby in full flow and on the Yarnbury 30 metres line, the ball was thrown forward by a Selby forward.

Galbraith gathered and kicked through to a deserted Selby try-line, winger John Bramham easily beating poor defence. Galbraith converted to give Yarnbury an eight point advantage.

Jason Cicero left the field because of a re-occurrence of his ankle problem and he was replaced by Mark Tomlinson.

Back to 15 men, Yarnbury had the chance to extend their lead but Galbraith missed a difficult kick.

Selby played some exciting rugby at times, particularly in the forwards, but threw all their good work away by making too many mistakes and taking the wrong options.

The forwards won 21 of the 28 scrums, including four against the head, and Selby conceded only eight penalties to Yarnbury's 15. The backs, though lacked imagination.

Next Saturday Selby travel to Keighley for a league fixture.

Updated: 10:03 Monday, October 27, 2003