LUCKLESS Pocklington RUFC suffered a nail-biting home defeat to Morley for the second season on the trot - and this time by the width of a post.

In 2017, Morley won a scrappy encounter at Pock with the last kick. Ten months on, another error-strewn game went to the final kick but this time the hosts had the chance to take the spoils only for Christian Pollock's penalty to bounce out off an upright to again leave Morley breathless victors, 23-22.

It should never have gone down to the wire as Pock looked in control until gifting Morley an interception lifeline midway through the second half.

It got the south Leeds side back into the game and gave them the momentum to go on and take another smash-and-grab victory.

The match had begun well for Pocklington. An early Ed Liversidge charge brought a penalty success for Pollock to give them the lead.

Another was wide but Pock's lead grew to 10 points after wing Jack Walters went close in the corner. Karl Durkin snaffled a Morley overthrow and the home backs spread the ball left for James Thompson to score on his comeback appearance after 12 months out, Pollock converting.

Straightaway a midfield scissors saw Morley plough under the posts for a converted try and it was 10-7 at the break.

Belgian exchange referee Monsieur Prost gave a stream of penalties and sin-binned seven players, making it a stop-start encounter.

But Pock extended their lead after good interplay as replacement prop Euan Walker burst up the middle and swapped offloads with Liversidge before the backs took over and got the ball out for full-back Jed Jackson to wriggle over in the corner.

At 15-7 going into the final quarter, Pock appeared comfortable and Morley a little jaded.

The hosts were probing for a killer score when it suddenly unravelled. They started to force passes and Morley plucked an interception to race 80 yards and score.

There were doubts about the conversion but it was chalked up and at 15-12 the game was back in the melting pot.

A frenetic end-to-end finale saw a flurry of yellow cards and the opposing kickers pepper the posts.

Morley hit an upright with a straightforward penalty, but kicked one from the same position two minutes later to level.

Pock missed one, then Morley kicked another to lead for the first time with less than 10 minutes left.

The drama continued as Pocklington won a lineout and created the space for centre Josh Britton to squeeze in, Pollock converting from wide out for 22-18.

But they were unable to close the game out and a Morley breakaway gave them the position to grab a try and the lead as the game went into stoppage time.

Pock had one last thrust to save the game and another penalty gave Pollock the chance to win it - denied by the woodwork.

They will look to bounce back from this first defeat of term when they go to Percy Park on Saturday.