Selby lost their must-win clash with West Park Bramhope 9-5, with poor refereeing doing little to raise the quality of the football on display as poor handling, poor decision making and constant stoppages littered the afternoon.

Selby could point to the fact that they scored the game's only try by Matthew Smith, but the truth is that the majority of play was between the 22 lines and neither side looked capable of crossing the line until Smith's late strike.

Park arrived with a huge pack that was expected to tire but Selby played to the opposition game plan and failed to spread the ball wide to move the ponderous forwards around.

Monkhouse, the Park full-back kicked two first-half penalties but missed with several other chances until he sealed the game with a late shot following the Selby score.

In contrast Dave Batty, Selby's kicker did not have a kickable penalty throughout the game and his only attempt, the conversion was from the touchline.

The home team sorely missed their influential skipper and powerhouse of the second row, Jason Cicero, and the guile and pace of Martin Bramley in the centre.

Updated: 11:50 Monday, November 19, 2001