IN THE battle of the North Premier's bottom two Pocklington suffered the agony of going down to the last kick of the game as Morley snatched the spoils 20-18.

Pocklington gave their opponents a 14-point start, fought back to get their noses in front with ten minutes to go then had to try and hold out against the visitors' late rally.

They looked to have just about done it until what appeared a harsh ruck indiscretion gave Morley the chance to win it with a last-gasp penalty.

It was a game Pocklington really needed to win. But they made a strangely subdued start and paid the penalty as the game's best player, Morley fly-half and captain Mark Chester, twice wriggled over from close range then added the conversions to give his side a 14-0 lead inside the first quarter.

The first time Pock won clean line-out possession they launched centre Billy Hardy up the middle, No 8 Jack Holbrough took play on down the right and, when the ball came back to centre field, lock Archie Fothergill charged the final 15 yards to plant the ball on the line, with Jonty Peters converting.

It was all Pocklington and they looked likely to add another try until Morley killed the ball, Peters' penalty making it 10-14 at the break.

Morley took advantage of missed Pock chances early in the second half to take play to the other end where Chester kicked over a penalty to stretch the lead.

Back came Pocklington, as they battered at the whitewash up the middle and on the right, then shipped it wide left where wing Thoy powered past two defenders to dive in for the try.

The gap was just two points and Pocklington looked to have the momentum. But Morley stepped up their efforts and Pocklington were hard pressed in defence until Peters intercepted and galloped 80 yards upfield.

He was heading for the posts until Morley's wing sprinted back to catch him just five yards short. The Morley man was yellow carded for laying on the ball, and Peters got up to kick the penalty for 18-17.

Ahead for the first time, Pocklington were well placed to go on and win the game.

However, it was always going to go to the wire.

Chester had a drop goal charged down but Pocklington lost some key set pieces and Chester was given a penalty sighter from the clubhouse touchline that went wide.

Morley regained possession and, although Pocklington tackled themselves to a standstill and thought they had done enough, that final penalty award and goal left Morley jubilant and Pock gutted.