SELBY RUFC edged to a thrilling 29-28 victory in a ding dong Yorkshire One derby match at Pontefract.

The sides were level at half-time and then traded scores throughout the second period before Josh Cruise kicked a late penalty to steal the points.

The sides have now met 24 times since the advent of league rugby in 1987, with 11 wins apiece and two draws, with a points difference of only four in Selby's favour.

This was another tight affair with Selby full-back Cruise only able to convert one of his three early penalty attempts.

On 15 minutes, Selby fly-half Cody Whittaker hacked the ball to the try line and touched down, but Ponte hit back with a try by winger Jordan Gill on 20 minutes.

Cruise kicked another penalty on 25 minutes and three minutes later Whittaker crossed again after good work by skipper Duncan Hardy.

Pontefract retained the ball from the kick off and number eight Matt Williams went over near the posts and fly-half Glenn Boyd kicked the conversion on 33 minutes.

Five minutes later, Ponte went in front for the first time after a cross-kick was gathered by Gill for a try which Boyd converted.

On 39 minutes, Pontefract were penalised for crossing and Cruise levelled at 19-19.

Boyd kicked a long range penalty and Cruise missed two efforts before Ponte's Phil Lane and Whittaker were sent to the sin-bin.

Shortly afterwards, a Liam Kay penalty gave the hosts a 25-19 lead, but Selby responded with a debut try for James Coventry on 62 minutes. Cruise goaled to put Selby back in front.

Selby were caught offside after 72 minutes and Kay kicked another excellent penalty, but three minutes later Cruise held his nerve to seal the win when the hosts were caught offside.