THE worst fears of Pocklington and York RI were confirmed today when they were officially relegated from their respective divisions.

The 'up-down' saga has been prolonged for the past month as the RFU waited for the outcome of the controversial promotional play-off system - leaving Pocklington, York RI and even York anxiously waiting long after their fixtures had finished.

Had the play-off results not gone in the favour of the Yorkshire clubs, a staggering six clubs could have been relegated from each division - with the relegation of Waterloo and Preston Grasshoppers from National Two and West Hartlepool, Sandal and Morley from National Three North causing a domino effect on the Northern Leagues.

While there was despair in the camps at Percy Road and New Lane, there was a collective sigh of relief from York as play-off wins for Scarborough (playing in the Yorkshire/Northumberland/Durham play-off), Huddersfield (the North Two East-North Two West play-off) and Hull Ionians (the North-Midlands play-off) prevented the landslide of Yorkshire clubs.

Having finished sixth from bottom in Yorkshire One, York would have amazingly been dragged down, but they have escaped to fight another day.

A torrid campaign had left Pocklington - the one-time Rugby World Club of the Year - bottom of Yorkshire One and dead-certs for the drop, but RI had hoped they had done enough in Yorkshire Two to survive.

However, it was not to be as the Railwaymen joined Hemsworth and Castleford in dropping down into Yorkshire Three.

Team manager Nigel Lowery was understandably disappointed when told of the club's relegation by the Evening Press, but he vowed the club would bounce back.

"It's a shame," he said. "We half expected it though.

"We had an inkling that we had to finish fourth from bottom to be sure. That's life and we will pick ourselves up and carry on.

"I know we'll be back next season and will be okay. We've spoken to a couple of people about coaching and we are just waiting for replies, while we also know what players we have got coming in."

Pock boss Phil Gilbank was bluntly honest on the news his team had been relegated. "We weren't good enough," he admitted.

"It is one of those things where it shows when we were in the winning habit a few years a go, we won a few games we should have lost, but by the same token we have had a losing habit this time and lost a few games we could have won because we couldn't find that bit extra."

Meanwhile Malton and Norton's promotion to Yorkshire Two has been confirmed. The Gannock-based side had finished runners-up to Heath in Yorkshire Three.

- York RI will hold their players' dinner on Saturday, June 8.

Updated: 11:45 Friday, May 24, 2002