Selby's Carl Paterson notched 17 points as his team beat Yarnbury 47-10 to give them an iron grip on the North East Three title.

Selby play at the only team who can now catch them,West Hartlepool Tech, in three weeks, in their final match, and West Hartlepool will have to win by 32 clear points to snatch the crown on points.

Inside centre John Webster put Selby into an early lead against Yarnbury, with Paterson converting, but Yarnbury stand-off Ian Whitehurst soon replied with a penalty.

A Paterson penalty put Selby 10-3 up, and then left winger Tony Godfrey, playing for the suspended Charlie Bennett, stretched the lead with an unconverted try.

But from the kick-off Yarnbury hit back as left winger John Bramham hacked through to go over for a try, Whitehurst converting.

Another Paterson penalty gave Selby an 18-10 lead at half-time, and he landed another early in the second period.

Selby then took complete command with further tries by scrum half Matthew Smith, Godfrey, and open side flanker Richard Nicholson, with Paterson ending up with four conversions and three penalties to take his season's tally to 297 points and his team two points clear at the top with one match to play.

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