Selby notched up a convincing 38-3 victory over a North Ribblesdale side, which is traditionally hard to beat, in what was an all-round team performance.

Success was built on hard graft with mistakes and mishandling cut to a minimum.

Skipper Jason Cicero led from the front as Selby, opening with the aid of a stiff wind, were soon into their stride with Nick Gregory organising the game from off-half and Carl Paterson bringing his centre partner Tony Godfrey on several barnstorming runs to create havoc in the opposition ranks.

Paterson started the scoring with two penalties and converted two of the three first half-tries scored by himself, Jim Nicholson and Mike Parsonage.

The game was played in good spirit and was well controlled by the referee, but was marred at the end of the half when one of the visitors' props was spotted stamping at a Selby head on the floor, giving the official no option but to show the red card.

The Ribb pack had struggled to gain parity with eight men and were always under the cosh after the dismissal, but turning round with the wind in their favour they were first to score with a penalty. But from then on they never troubled the home side's line.

Selby extended the score further with second tries for both Nicholson and Parsonage.

Results from Yorkshire One this week have not been too helpful to Selby and the team is not yet completely safe from the threat of relegation but with performances like this, this is a remote possibility.

Selby have been boosted by the return of players from other clubs and the emergence of some strong second team players means competition for places at Sandhill Lane is pretty healthy.

Scarborough struggled to a 3-0 win over Beverley and leaders Hull had to scrap all the way at West Park Bramhope before winning 8-6.

Yarnbury won 12-11 at Old Brodlieans while Sheffield Tigers lost 27-18 at home to Pontefract.

Updated: 12:08 Monday, February 11, 2002