A SELBY squad containing 10 players under the age of 20 put in a creditable performance but lost 41-8 against a West Leeds side currently second in the Yorkshire One table.

The youngsters matched the visitors for long spells but any mistakes were quickly capitalised on by one of the league’s strongest sides.

When Selby were penalised for offside in front of their posts, visiting fly half Steffan James opened his side’s account with a straight-forward kick at goal. The visitors extended the lead after 17 minutes when former Leeds Rhinos player Mark Calderwood followed up a chip to the line and won the race to the touch down out on the right hand flank. James converted; 10-0.

Second row Stephen Clark pulled Selby back into the game with a try following a line-out. Cruise was unable to hit the conversion but the boost in confidence was clear to see as Selby began to take the game to West Leeds.

However, with no reward for their efforts, Selby fell further behind on 35 minutes when scrumhalf Angus Milborn spotted the smallest of gaps around the side of the tackle area and broke away for a fine individual try. James converted; 17-5.

West Leeds conceded a penalty and Cruise reduced the deficit to nine points with the final kick of the first half.

The second half was barely five minutes old when West Leeds scored another try courtesy of Calderwood.

James missed the kick but his side now had breathing space at 22-8.

The next 20 minutes produced no further scores but provided the crowd with plenty of entertainment as both sides opened the game up and play flowed from end-to-end.

As in the first half, a number of promising attacks from Selby broke down as their inexperience showed when trying to force a pass when holding onto the ball would have kept up the pressure.

The visitors’ fourth try after 65 minutes came against the run of play but showed just how dangerous West Leeds are on the counter attack.

Fullback Keir Breakwell secured the bonus point and James added the extras to give the visitors a 29-8 advantage.

As the home side tired in the closing minutes, West Leeds were quick to take advantage and flanker Dec Penny added a brace of tries, firstly from a line-out taken against the throw after 72 minutes and then, deep into injury time, when repeated drives at the heart of the Selby defence created space round the edge of the ruck and Penny was able to gallop clear for his side’s sixth try of the afternoon. James added the conversion to complete a flattering 41-8 victory for the visitors, a score line which does not do any justice to the efforts of the Selby youngsters.

Many casual observers were heard to remark that a similar performance against other sides in Yorkshire One would almost certainly have brought greater reward for Selby, whose next game is away at Yarnbury.