A BELOW strength Selby side lost 26-17 in a friendly match at home to a strong Doncaster development side including players with first team experience.

With second row forward Jason Cicero absent, Mark Toye came back into the side having recovered from a facial injury.

Dave Christison and Duncan Phillips were both unavailable so Ed Sweeting started at flanker, with Paul Randell filling the other flanker vacancy. Hamish Burns started at full back in place of Simon Hall.

In the sixth minute Selby centre Shaun Austerfield sped over for an unconverted try.

Doncaster centre Mark Cahill scored a try in the 13th minute, full back John Ellis kicking the conversion.

They went 14-5 ahead six minutes later with a try by centre Adam Lloyd, which Ellis converted.

Two minutes into the second half Doncaster's Timothy Elliot went over for an uncoverted try. In the 56th minute Selby's Mathew Smith scampered over for un uncoverted try.

Selby prop Paul Gabel was injured and replaced by John Kaye.

Doncaster No 8 Mike Brooks forced his way over for a try in the 74th minute. Ellis converted for Doncaster to lead 26-10.

In the 78th minute Austerfield scored his second try of the game and Raffen converted.

Next Saturday Selby XV travel to Wheatley Hills for a league match. With Old Brodleians winning 20-5 at Scarborough, Selby retain tenth place in the table on points difference and have a 22-point advantage over Brodleians.

Updated: 12:10 Monday, March 08, 2004