Selby RUFC slipped towards the Yorkshire One relegation zone after seeing victory against Ilkley slip through their hands.
They led 25-12 with ten minutes to go at Sandhill Lane but slumped to a 26-25 defeat as Ilkley scored two late converted tries.
Nothing but a Selby victory seemed to be on the cards when man of the match Shaun Austerfield went in for an excellent try near the posts for Dan Porter's conversion to give the home side a 25-12 lead.
But it all went wrong when Ilkley's speedy backs came in to the picture.
Selby eventually cracked in the 76th minute when winger Brendan Kelley went over in the corner and the same player slotted over the conversion to set up a grandstand finish.
Three minutes later the Ilkley backs created more havoc in the home defence with full-back Stuart Vincent going over near the posts, leaving Kelley with a straightforward kick which won the match.
Selby had started the game well enough with Andy Banks' penalty putting them ahead in the third minute, but Ilkley got the first try on the board when winger Dan Nulty beat four Selby players in a foot race to touch down a kick ahead.
The West Yorkshire side went further ahead in the 22nd minute when flanker Charlie Cudworth picked the ball up from a ruck and charged down the blindside unopposed to score and Kelley tagged on the extras to put Ilkley 12-3 ahead.
But the game swung in Selby's favour three minutes later when scrum-half Mathew Smith made a trademark break and Selby No 8 Wright Phillips took play on for Martin Bramley to put Austerfield over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Selby began to pick up the pace and got their noses in front after eight minutes of added on time when prop Richard Fuller crashed over near the posts. Although Banks made a hash of the conversion Selby led 13-12.
They increased their lead when winger Richard Topping finished off some excellent work by the backs for a try near the corner. Toby Pemberton, who had taken over kicking duties, missed the conversion.
When Austerfield's try, improved by Porter, a replacement for Banks, gave the Sandhill Laners a 13 point advantage they looked home and dry, but Ilkley provided a real sting in the tail.
Updated: 11:17 Monday, January 30, 2006
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