In a keenly contested replay that was considerably closer than the scoreline suggests, Pocklington lost 23-10 at home to Hull.

The visitors' greater strike power in the backs gave them the victory over an under-strength Pocklington outfit.

Both sides showed numerous changes from when the game should originally have been played a fortnight ago, Hull bringing in several new signings, while Pocklington were missing a number of unavailable key players.

Hull opened the scoring with a Gary Pearce penalty, but Pocklington were soon back on terms as stand-in fly half Mark Taylor missed one penalty chance but was straight away on target with another.

Pocklington then took the lead thanks to an excellent back move. Last minute call-up Graeme Hales sliced through from full back and Taylor linked up again to score and convert.

Five minutes before the interval the sides were level once more as Hull broke up the left then switched play right for wing John Wilson to run in, Pearce converting.

Hull regained the lead with a vital score six minutes into the second half. Pocklington tried to run the ball but turned it over on half way and Hull counter-attacked quickly for Wilson to sprint over, Pearce converting from the touchline.

Hull almost scored again when York Wasps RL winger Leroy McKenzie was just beaten to the touch from a kick to the corner, however they extended their lead with a controversial penalty from Pearce when a free kick was then turned into a kick at goal.

Pocklington came back strongly through their hard-working pack, with young forwards Steve Wilcock and Brad MacDonald to the fore.

Replacement scrum half Andy Kirby had a touchdown disallowed when the referee was unsighted at a rolling maul, and Pocklington believed they should have had a penalty try when Hull conceded a string of off-side penalties on their own line.

But Pocklington's pressure came to nothing as Hull rode the storm and broke out for Pearce to seal victory with his third penalty.

Updated: 12:09 Monday, February 05, 2001