A cliff-hanger of a game at Pocklington ended in controversy as a debatable decision by the referee helped hand Pontefract a 23-18 victory against the hosts.

The visitors had edged five points ahead with ten minutes to go, but Pocklington were confident of getting back on terms when their man of the match Carl Stannard set off on a charge for the Pontefract line.

A Pontefract forward came way over the top to kill the ball, but when Pock tried to free possession they had two men, number eight Denzel Styche and scrum-half Mark Taylor, simultaneously sin-binned for over-vigorous rucking.

The surprise decision effectively ended the contest there and then as Pontefract's 15 men were comfortably able to close the game down against Pocklington's 13 in the closing minutes.

Earlier there had been nothing between the sides as Pocklington's forwards led the way, only for Pontefract's backs to keep pegging them back.

Indeed, the advantage had swung one way and then the other and the lead had changed hands four times between two well matched sides during the ding-dong battle.

After Kevin Bowling had fired an early drop goal wide, Pocklington took the lead when a seventh-minute lineout catch and drive brought a try for flanker Stannard.

Three penalties in as many minutes, two for Pontefract and one by Bowling, saw Pocklington 8-6 ahead at the interval.

But Pontefract hit back straight after the restart with a breakaway try down the wing which they converted from the touchline.

Pocklington took control again and another forward drive was touched down by replacement Nigel Hinton with Bowling adding a good conversion and straight away kicking a penalty.

Once again Pontefract broke down the flanks to score in the corner and kick another conversion from the touchline, then add a further penalty.

Pocklington took their turn to take the game back to their opponents until the sin-binning incident pulled the plug in disappointing fashion.

York RI's season is back on track after a comfortable 28-10 victory at Hemsworth.

Playing with the elements in the first half, RI started brightly, running the ball at every opportunity and pinning Hemsworth in their own half for long periods.

The home defence finally cracked in the 20th minute when from a lineout on the half-way line RI's backs created space for skipper Ian Hassall to enter the line and out-sprint the home cover to score under the posts.

Matthew Yates converted to give RI a 7-0 lead, which was extended in the 25th minute when from a lineout on the Hemsworth five-metre line John Alexander stole the Hemsworth ball and crashed over.

RI were well in control and it was against the run of play when Hemsworth scored, a dropped ball and a kick ahead allowing John Rowley to touch down. Simon Frow converted to make the score 12-7.

This blip was only temporary as from the restart RI drove the Hemsworth pack back and when the ball was released scrum-half Tim Barley was on hand to stroll over. Matthew Yates converted to give RI a 19-7 half time lead.

The second half was only two minutes old when RI infringed under their own posts and Simon Frow kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit.

This was the only scare to RI who were playing well within themselves. Three Yates penalties gave RI a commanding 28-10 lead which they held until the end.

A good sign for RI was that the youngsters drafted in because of injuries all performed well, indicating better things to come.

Updated: 11:42 Monday, September 24, 2001