A DEPLETED Selby Warriors crashed 46-18 at Kippax to lose ground in the promotion race in Pennine League division two east.

The Warriors did not start playing until the second half, by which time the score was 46-0, with the home team looking on course for a century of points.

However, the club did well to turn a team out considering several players were away, with a mix of young lads and old heads stepping up, and, to their full credit, the second half saw a transformation.

Coach Mark Hanson at the interval had set his side a target of winning the second period and, while it seemed a tall order, they succeeded in fine fashion, the returning Russ Anderson leading the way.

Anderson stormed in for their first try, taking three men over the line with him, and the transformed team continued to tear into the hosts, with the forwards, led by big prop Martin Jackson and the superb Ryan Brind, to the fore.

Jack Greensmith went over from acting-half, and centre Ben Bell crossed after a 30-yard angled run to cap probably his best display in a Warriors shirt.

Greensmith added the conversions to seal an excellent second half, in which Leon Spowage and 16-year-old brother Max were also both superb.

The Warriors will be up against it again this coming Saturday at home to high-riding Doncaster Toll Bar, but the fighting spirit shown in the second half here should stand them in good stead.