Selby took a giant step to claiming the title of the area's premier rugby union club with their 18-7 victory over York.

For 13 years, it is York who have been top of the pile, but with a three-point deficit now between them and Selby and only a handful of games left, it looks the unofficial title could well be returning to Sandhill Lane.

Even if York, who do have a game in hand over their rivals, can bridge the gap, then Selby can still boast to having completed a Yorkshire One double over them.

A 13-3 victory at Clifton Park back in September last year was followed up with a 18-7 scoreline on Saturday.

It wasn't a pretty game to watch, but local derbies hardly ever are, and it took tries from Martin Bramley and Mick Parsonage in the space of three minutes to give the home fans something to cheer about.

Both sides were guilty of wasting possession and position, with poor handling and even worse use of set plays preventing any continuity.

The referee also played his part with a set of baffling decisions, and was often too whistle happy for his own good.

A drab first half was devoid of many scoring chances, but when they did come along they weren't taken.

York full-back Mike Ford couldn't curl his early goal attempt through the posts, while Carl Paterson, restored to his preferred fly-half role in the Selby backs, failed to fully connect as his attempted drop goal fell short.

He did manage to slot over his first effort, with a bread and butter effort from 35 yards after ten minutes, but he disappointed with two further strikes in the opening 40 minutes.

Selby did look lively in the backs, with full-back Ray Adamson looking the most dangerous.

While Selby were strong in the backs, York had the edge in the forwards, with the huge pack making life uncomfortable for the home side in the scrums.

However, with neither side testing the scorer, the first half ended 3-0 in Selby's favour.

Only the Selby team will know what was said at half-time, but they came out for the second period firing on all cylinders and York found themselves penned in their 22.

Drive after drive finally saw Jim Nicholson cross only for play to be pulled up for a scrap between Andy Kay and Mark Tomlinson - although it was hardly anything to have the RFU disciplinary panel scrambling to make a decision.

As Selby continued to pound the line, York were dealt a cruel blow when they had Chris Dempsey sin-binned for an indiscretion at a line-out.

With 15 men, York had been under the cosh, but with 14, they found themselves over-stretched.

For Selby the spoils and breathing space from the bottom part of the table, while for York a nervous final few weeks of the season as the spectre of relegation hangs in the background unless they can bounce back.

Updated: 08:39 Monday, March 04, 2002