Pocklington 23 - 17 Dinnington

Pocklington produced a solid team performance to beat Dinnington in their last Yorkshire Two league game of 2006.

Dinnington produced a pack drive from the kick off, but the Pocklington forwards responded in kind from the first lineout. Dinnington were boosted by a series of early penalties, and they moved downfield to take the lead through a 12th minute drop goal, Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington stepped up their efforts and more powerful pack drives set up stand off Henry Mitchell to equalize with an angled penalty at the end of the first quart. Pocklington had a spell on the defensive, and had a couple of anxious moments after missing first up tackles. Home fullback Nick Bennett saved them with a cover tackle after Dinnington had broken through in midfield, then the visitors dropped the ball after getting a man clear in the right corner. Soon after it was Pocklington's turn to fail to make an overlap count when a pass went over the head of unmarked wing Rob Jackson, but Pocklington retained the initiative and Tim Nixon started a raid on halfway on the opposite wing, centre Sandy Mitchell burst down the touchline, and when he was held ten yards out the forwards arrived in numbers and prop George Fell was driven over for the score.

Dinnington continued to get footholds in the home half, but a series on individual breaks kept taking Pocklington back onto the offensive. No 8 Matt Davies gave Pocklington further go forwards from a scrum near halfway, and after the home pack had won a turnover at the next scrimmage Henry Mitchell dropped a goal to put his side in the driving seat at 11-3.

Pocklington ended the first half with a sweeping attack down the right, and on the restart they laid seige to the visitors line through a series of lineout catch and drives. Dinnington were warned for illegally stopping Pocklington's drives, but they still illegally killed the next home thrust and Pockling6ton were awarded the penalty try which Henry Mitchell converted as the Dinnington offender trooped to the sin-bin.

But Dinnington came back and after another series of penalties they replied with a converted try of their own from close range at the start of the last quarter - though Pocklington were convinced that they had held the attacker up over the line.

Dinnington had stolen victory with scores deep into injury time on the lprevious two meetings between the sides. And with Pocklington's lead now pegged back to eight points the home side must have had brief fears that Dinnington might be gearing up for another smash and grab raid.

But Pocklington regrouped and with man of the match, Alex Stuart, again proving an effective source of possession, they exerted more sustained pressure in the right corner. A bizarre two minutes then followed as both home halfbacks clearly touched down in quick succession, only for the referee to prevent both scores counting. First Henry Mitchell darted over from a quick tap penalty, but the referee had fallen over as he followed play and he declined to award the score from a horizontal position. Then from the resultant scrum Phil Priestly crossed in the corner, however this time the official ruled that Priestly has brushed into him as he dived for the line.

However, Pocklington were not to be denied and they held the position then sealed their success with their try of the season. Good hands and good angles saw half a dozen backs combine in a 50 yard, high-speed move that started on the right touchline and ended with left wing Rob Jackson gliding over to make it 23-10.

There was still time for Dinnington to get their customary injury time score, but this time it was too little, too late as the final whistle followed the visitors' converted try with Pocklington still six points to the good and victory in the bag.