FOR long periods this did not look like a top-of-the-table versus bottom encounter, but in the end Pocklington's hard work was brushed aside by Hull's clinical finishing as the visitors ran out 47-14 victors to remain at the head of Yorkshire One.

Hull, coached by former Pock' star Gary Pearce, soon gave a taste of how dangerous they could be with a long distance back try after only three minutes.

But Pock's pack took over and they had John Ainslie, held up over the line before pulling a penalty attempt wide.

Hull's opportunism then brought them two touchdowns in quick succession as Pocklington twice lost the ball in the tackle and Hull ran in the tries from half way each time.

Pocklington came back again for wing Graeme Hales to follow up his own kick ahead and touch down, Mark Taylor converting from wide out. But Pocklington's come back efforts were wasted when slack tackling let Hull run in a converted try with the last move of the first half.

Rob Nolan made two clean breaks early in the second half, but Pock' twice failed to take advantage and Hull broke to the other end to score a converted try and a penalty.

Pocklington's forward continued to take the game to their opponents and they turned a line-out into a rolling maul for prop George Mangalo to score, Taylor adding another to wing conversion.

However, Hull's strong running backs, that included five ex-rugby league professionals, had the last word with two more tries in the closing minutes.

York's recent revival continued at Clifton Park when they beat second-placed Yorkshire One rivals, Pontefract 24- 20.

At face value, the victory delivered little as York remain top of the bottom half of the table, albeit at a more comfortable margin from the relegation zone.

Equally, they are still five points adrift of leaders Hull but they demonstrated they have the capacity to beat the best and yet still have room for improvement, not least outside the scrum where more effective passing would improve their penetration.

Victory undoubtedly stemmed from a sterling performance from their pack which dominated the scrums and rampaged about the field in attack and defence with a commitment not often evident earlier in the season. However, despite a towering performance by lock Dave Spanton, the line-outs were only effective when kept simple.

It was easy to see in the opening stages why Pontefract are the League high-flyers as they have a very mobile team with strong pacy forwards who often caused the York defence some embarrassment which resulted in a stream of penalties. Fortunately for York, fly-half Julian Appleyard was only able to convert one.

As the game progressed, the York pack took control but poor passing and over use of the boot hindered positive achievement.

Lock Brad Macdonald, at outside centre, burst through on a beautifully angled run before passing to full-back Mike Ford who zigzagged almost to the line where York went offside. But Ford was soon back in the attack and put skipper Jeremy Clutton over for a try which Ford converted to give York a 7-3 lead after 25 minutes.

Pontefract were stung into attack and only a savage tackle from Rob Karma saved a try.

However, the visitors went into the lead from a scrum under the York posts when No 9 James Arkle was dispossessed and his opposite number Rich Fletcher touched down for Appleyard to give his team a 10-7 advantage.

This was a testing time for York, with big Pontefract No 8, Mick Vaughan prominent and only a brave fall from Ford saved York from going further behind.

York survived to surge into the Pontefract 22 where only a quick transfer from Ford was needed to put two of his colleagues clear. He was tackled in possession but shortly afterwards put York level when he converted an offside penalty.

York continued to out-power the Pontefract pack, but they took the lead when York were penalised for a high tackle and Appleyard obliged.

However, York went back on attack when Mark Roberts kicked into space and the home side established themselves in their opponents 22.

At a maul close to the Pontefract line visiting Australian referee, 19-year-old Peter Lehman, appeared to penalise York for offside just as Spanton pounced on a loose ball and touched down.

The referee decided that it was a case of mistaken identify and awarded York a somewhat fortunate try when Ford converted with an excellent kick from wide out.

York were now enjoying total territorial domination and the pressure began to tell when Lee Durham put his back-row partner Andy Kay on a run for the corner. His low inside pass saw Clutton crawling for the line but not far enough.

The ball was recycled out to Roberts who sent Matt Halifax bursting through weary defenders to score under the posts for a Ford conversion and a 24-13 lead.

Pontefract responded immediately with a long pass out to left winger Tom Archer, who found the York defence in disarray and scored a try which Appleyard converted.

This left York to weather a tense last five minutes which they did with some comfort and a missed penalty.

Updated: 11:48 Monday, November 19, 2001