TWO tries in the final ten minutes sealed Pocklington's hard-earned 18-0 Yorkshire Three victory at Roundhegians.

Pocklington made a storming start. Their pack had drives stopped inches short, while scrum-half Johnny Frank dived over but could not ground the ball.

They remained on the offensive but had to rely on two straightforward penalties from Kevin Bowling in the seventh and 16th minutes to edge ahead.

Pocklington cleaned up in the line-out but the greasy conditions and periodic downpours made it difficult for them to get the ball wide. The conditions suited Roundhegians' more limited approach, their forwards' crash and bash tactics testing the visitors.

Pocklington continued to work hard and defend well as the game became a midfield dog-fight on a churning-up pitch. But Pocklington's stamina eventually told, increasing the pressure in the closing minutes.

After full-back Charlie Allen had almost won the race to a kick and chase, Frank nipped through on the blind side to touch down. Bowling then completed his satisfactory day when the ball was fed back from the pack to the stand-off who jinked under the posts and tacked on the conversion. That added to his prize as spectators' man of the match as well as cleaning up in the Grand National sweepstake.

With Castleford also winning, Pocklington now have a championship decider at Percy Road on April 17.

Updated: 09:53 Monday, April 05, 2004