Pocklington battled hard on their long trip to North Ribblesdale, but they were again undone by their opponents' greater pace out wide, going down to a 30-8 defeat.

Pocklington made a lively start and Mark Taylor kicked an excellent early penalty. But that good opening was wasted when they tried to run the ball on their own line, dropped a simple pass and handed Ribblesdale a gift converted score.

Ribblesdale added a penalty and another try before Pocklington got on top in the later stages of the first half only to be unable to make their pressure pay.

Pocklington retained the initiative at the start of the second period and both prop Rob Smith and centre Guy Wilson were inches from a score. However, their old failing of being unable to retain their own line-out ball again prevented them from keeping on the pressure and Ribblesdale twice broke away down the left to score.

Pocklington fought back once more and they spread the ball out to the left, where full-back Andy Mair joined the line and cut back inside to touch down. But Ribblesdale had the final word and scored again from a five-yard scrum with the last move of the game.

Updated: 12:11 Monday, November 12, 2001