A BELOW-PAR show from Selby RUFC saw them crash 17-7 at Heath in Yorkshire One.

Selby gave young James Hunt his debut in the second row with Martin Protheroe switched to number eight after Jacob Robinson had to withdraw after sustaining a back injury in training.

But the Selby forwards were always under pressure from their hosts in the set-piece scrums, which proved a decisive factor.

Heath went in front after only four minutes - Ezra Hinchliffe kicking a penalty after Selby were penalised for going in at the side.

Full-back Jacob Storey then scored wide out with Hinchliffe kicking an excellent conversion. Hinchliffe missed another penalty chance after 28 minutes before Selby’s first real pressure.

They pounded the Heath try line with phase after phase of play eventually winning a five-metre scrum, but ultimately failing to get over the try line.

A poor re-start from Selby in the second half failed to go the required ten metres and they conceded a penalty for offside only for Hinchliffe to miss.

After 48 minutes, more Selby pressure eventually told with prop Ben Booth going over for a smart try – Cruise converted from near the touch-line.

Both Hinchliffe and opposite number Cruise both missed penalty chances before Heath’s number eight Ian Downsborough bagged a pushover try, goaled by Hinchliffe.

Selby besieged the Heath line for a full five minutes but phase after phase by the forwards and two scrums failed to bring any reward with Selby knocking on.