AN inspired substitution paved the way for Selby RUFC to reach the fifth round of the Intermediate Cup for the first time in their history with a 21-13 victory over Hereford.

Trailing 13-9 midway through the second half, coach Diccon Edwards sent on big forward Jamie Pocklington.

Within a minute Pocklington ignored a three-man overlap, sold an outrageous dummy and crashed over. Dan Porter added the extras to give Selby the lead for the first time in a pulsating encounter.

Roared on by Sandhill Lane's biggest crowd of the season, Selby struck again three minutes later when scrum-half Mathew Smith went blind side on the Hereford 20 metre line to put in winger Martin Protheroe.

Although Porter missed the conversion attempt, Selby had taken a big step towards the ultimate target of a Twickenham appearance.

Although it was the end of the scoring, it was not the end of the red-blooded action.

Only a knock-on prevented the Midlands Three West (South) side from pulling a try back and they were handed an advantage when Selby flanker Duncan Phillips was yellow carded for hands in the ruck.

Hereford were camped on the Selby line and it needed a crunching tackle from that man Pocklington to prevent a visting score.

As the tension mounted Hereford flanker Ali McColl was sin-binned for illegal use of the boot and in added-on time the match boiled over into a free-for-all involving all 30 players.

When order was restored referee Dave Speck played on for three more minutes before blowing for time to confirm a famous Selby victory.

Hereford had been the better side in the first half and were good value for their 13-6 interval lead.

Stand-off Will Bolt kicked them in to a 13th minute lead with a penalty which was soon cancelled out by one from Porter, who had missed with a couple of earlier attempts.

Hereford regained the lead on 25 minutes when the ball was released from a maul on the Selby 15-metre line and centre Cieron Griffiths went over for a try. Bolt added the conversion then tagged on a penalty to put Hereford in control.

Jason Cicero had been badly missed at the line-out and Hereford had generally been quicker to the breakdown.

But the introduction of Pocklington when Hereford prop Steve Bailey was sin-binned for punching swung the match dramatically in favour of Selby, who now find themselves just three games away from the final at rugby union's famous headquarters.

Updated: 11:43 Monday, November 29, 2004