SELBY RUFC hit the ground running after the festive break as a 39-7 home win over Ripon moved them up to second in Yorkshire Two.

A scrappy first quarter at Sandhill Lane came at a cost for the Swans as second row Matthew Wood exited the action with a shoulder injury.

Fly-half Josh Cruise fell short with a 44-metre penalty attempt, but the hosts went in front when some excellent backs play put skipper and hooker Duncan Hardy in for a try converted by Cruise after 23 minutes.

Cruise hit a post with a drop goal attempt on 30 minutes, but two minutes later leading try scorer Dan Porter crossed. Selby increased their lead to 17-0 at half-time as James Blaymire created an opportunity for Hardy to score his second try.

An Alex Webster break saw scrum-half Jack Daniels put Porter over for his second try in the opening minute of the second half. Cruise converted.

Daniels was yellow-carded on 44 minutes but his side forged further in front with a Cruise drop goal. Winger Ben Lunt then crashed over and Cruise converted.

Selby flanker Jacob Robinson, was sin-binned and the visitors grabbed their only try, Guy Watkinson converting number eight Adam Scott-Paul’s score.

Martin Protheroe crashed over for the game’s final try after the Selby forwards had taken a Ripon scrum on the five-metre line against the head.

Second-placed Yarnbury lost 14-13 at home to leaders Doncaster Phoenix, allowing Selby to move into second. In Yorkshire Three, York RI were missing a host of senior players as they went down 29-3 at Burley.

Despite leaking an unconverted try after seven minutes, RI fought back well, with centre Gary Watkinson kicking a penalty.

RI went close to taking the lead, but they turned around 5-3 down and Burley ran in four more tries.