DAN Elliot’s conversion from wide out on a windy afternoon for kicking earned Pocklington a much-needed 22-20 triumph over Ilkley.

Tries from George Wagstaff, Jed Jackson, Jack Holbrough and Karl Durkin had given Elliott the chance to win the game with his team’s first kicked points, but the hosts also had to endure a nervy finale before securing victory in the North Premier contest.

Earlier, Pock were penalised twice on the attack in the first five minutes and the high penalty account against them was to give them extra difficulties throughout.

But they came again and number-eight Wagstaff went over from a close-range, lineout drive.

Ilkley hit back with a visiting penalty goal, but the Percy Road outfit then stormed 70 yards out of defence with a dozen players handling.

Full-back Jackson went for broke on the right, only to be held a yard short

But the ball was subsequently recycled left and Jackson was there again to burrow over for the score.

Slackness from the restart let Ilkley back in for a converted try from a charged-down home kick to level the scores but, in a ding-dong encounter, Pock pressed again on the half hour and it was their turn to benefit from a kick charged down, with flanker Holbrough collecting to wrestle over.

Hard-tackling centre Billy Hardy, meanwhile, was sin-binned for going too high and, although Pock held firm with 14 against the first Ilkley thrust, another gave the visitors a catch-and-drive, as well as a 17-15 interval lead.

In the second period, that advantage was extended with another penalty and, with 12 minutes to go but still trailing by five points and a man down, Pock had a mountain to climb.

But they looked for inspiration and found it from centre James Flint who carved 40 yards up the middle on a diagonal charge.

Ilkley scrambled back, only for the home side to move the ball left, where lock Durkin powered over for the bonus-point fourth try.

After Elliot expertly found his range to nudge Pock in front, lock Archie Fothergill went on to typify the home resolve with a crucial cover tackle when Ilkley again broke clear and there was the closest of calls when the visiting wing crawled over in the far corner but was pulled up for a double movement.

More late drama followed when, once again, Pock were penalised at the breakdown to give Ilkley a last-gasp kick to steal it.

Some held their breath, others couldn't look, but the ball fell just under the bar and the spoils deservedly stayed at home.