Selby revelled in the muddy conditions to record a convincing 39-5 Yorkshire One victory at Pocklington.

They got off to a flying start to go 13 points up inside the first 10 minutes.

Former England international Ray Adamson kicked an early penalty before Pocklington took over with a spell of pressure only to drop an ambitious pass on the attack.

Selby hacked 80 yards to the other end and eventually centre Martin Bramley dived over in the corner. Three minutes later Selby's high kick was missed by two Pocklington defenders and bounced over the line for full back Dave Batty to follow up and score.

For the rest of the first half there was little between the sides with Selby keeping it tight to play to their big pack, while Pocklington looked to attack more often through backs Sam Allen and Mark Taylor, only for their runs to invariably end bogged down in the mud.

The game was sealed early in the second half after Pocklington had dropped the kick-off and were pinned back on their own line. Both Selby second rows Jason Cicero and John Hick crashed over for converted tries in quick succession.

Selby added another close range try from centre John Webster before Pocklington gained a consolation try when No 8 Paul Rhodes spun over from a maul. But Pocklington's disappointing day was summed up by the final score when they were pressing the Selby line through their forwards only for Selby to come away with the ball, kick down field and finish with a length of the field try, Bramley again touching down for Adamson to convert.

The victory leaves Selby in third place while Pocklington are now firmly entrenched in mid-table.

Bottom club Ripon's Yorkshire One game at Yarnbury was postponed because of the state of the home club's pitch.

Elsewhere, in Yorkshire Two Northallerton beat Leodiensians 17-6 with tries from Mark Smith, Matt Bell and Ed Bulman who also kicked a conversion, Dan Eddie scoring two penalties for Leos.

The win virtually ends any lingering Northallerton relegation fears.

Scarborough made it 14 wins from their last 14 games in Yorkshire Two when they hammered Bradford Salem 34-10 at Newby with tries through both wingmen, Rob Bell (3) and Ian Warwick (2). Doug Williamson added their sixth touch down and Marcus Edwards added the goals.

Salem, who were 17-3 down at half time, replied with a penalty by Neil Klenk who also converted a try by lock forward Jason France.

Scarborough now lead the division by six points from Sheffield Tigers who have four games in hand.

In Yorkshire Six, Wetherby beat their visitors, Edlington Granby, 31-5, centre Alex Fraser scoring two of their five tries. Ashley Hanson replied for the visitors with an unconverted try.

Thirsk went down 12-3 on their own Yorkshire Six ground to Knaresborough for whom Gary Gilmour scored four penalties, Marty Nordli scoring a penalty for the home side.

The victory keeps Knaresborough in the hunt for promotion. They are now in third spot three points behind Wharefedale Rams and a further point adrift of leaders Rawmarsh.

Whitby defied the conditions to run in six tries against Hartlepool who took an early lead from two penalty tries, but 'Pool still went down 37-19 in Durham Northumberland League Two.

Updated: 13:43 Monday, February 12, 2001