POCKLINGTON took the Yorkshire Two title with an excellent 26-8 victory in their winner-takes-all championship decider with Castleford.

In front of a big crowd, the tension told in the early stages with neither side able to find continuity. Castleford missed a penalty on the half hour, but Kevin Bowling banged over a good penalty for Pocklington two minutes later to open the scoring.

Castleford had the edge territorially as they kicked to the corners with Bowling the most dangerous for Pocklington with his individual jinking runs.

But Cas showed how dangerous their backs could be when they broke from inside their own half for a try in the right corner.

Pocklington's young pack stepped up a level to take control, with lock Mark Biggin starting to rule the line-outs. And Pocklington ended the first half on the attack with teenage full back Charlie Allen squeezing through to go under the posts for Bowling to convert.

Bowling kicked another good penalty at the start of the second half before Castleford replied in kind.

Pocklington then laid siege to the visitors' line. They were held on it or over it three times in as many minutes before a line-out catch and drive was touched down by replacement flanker Adam Pears.

However, the game was still in the balance and Castleford took over with a spell of pressure. Pocklington's defence held firm, Cas missed another penalty, and the home side held their nerve to take play to the other end.

They dropped the ball with the line begging but Bowling capped his vintage display with a sweetly struck drop goal to give his side breathing space.

Castleford came forward again but once more could find no way through Pocklington's disciplined defence, and the home side ended on a high as they resumed the offensive, spread the ball wide and Allen chipped ahead for left wing Fergus Purtill to score with the last move of the day.

The victory left Pocklington on top of the table with 38 points - two more than Castleford.

Thorneseians cemented third place with a comprehensive 52-5 win at Wath on Dearne, who finished second to bottom, four points above struggling Leeds Corinthians who crashed to their 19th league defeat of the season when they went down 54-3 at home to Moortown.

Updated: 11:29 Monday, April 19, 2004