PONTEFRACT beat York Rugby Union Club 68-19 on Saturday, but the scoreline conceals a story.

York had arranged for both their first and second teams to visit Pontefract, but earlier in the week were obliged to cancel their senior squad through lack of representative availability.

On arrival at Pontefract's ground they found that their seconds were facing a full Pontefract first team, which has a real chance of promotion from Yorkshire One to North East Two, from which York has already been relegated.

Pontefract have a sound side with strong, experienced forwards, pace in the backs and willingness to throw the ball wide. The result was that York were under constant pressure and, after 20 minutes, had conceded 26 points to Pontefract's speedy backs, supplemented by excellent goal kicking from their fly-half.

Gutsy York responded when Josh Igoe broke away from a line-out and scrum-half Chris Preen took the scoring pass. Tom Copeland converted.

Rob Taylor and Joe Brown excelled in defence as York remained under pressure. Rob Liddle made a good run to pass inside for Copeland to score, but York conceded three further converted tries to reach the interval at 47-12 down.

Pontefract scored three more tries in the second half and York responded when Liddle and Copeland combined to set up a position on the Pontefract line where fly half Adam Smith strolled in under the posts.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, March 30, 2004