Pocklington 17 - 14 Goole

Pocklington came out deserved, albeit narrow, victors of a keenly contested local derby at home to Goole in a game where defences always had the upper hand.
Though Pocklington's pack laid the solid foundations for victory, once again it was a tense affair and they were unable to relax until the final whistle.
Playing into the wind, Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington made a bright start but Henry Mitchell saw a third minute penalty attempt drift across the face of the posts, then Ed Rowbottom, who was the homester's man of the match for his energetic open-side play, made an early break in midfield but slipped on the greasy surface as he bore down on the fullback. Both sides worked hard in defence and big tackles were the norm, making scoring chances few and far between. But Goole drew first blood with a penalty goal after 13th minutes before Pocklington regained the initiative to exert strong pressure in the left corner. Sandy Mitchell's well judged kick pinned Goole back then lock Stewart Rowley stole a visitor's lineout to keep Pocklington camped near the line. And when another lineout presented them with a catch and drive opportunity, the Pocklington pack muscled over and Rowley claimed the touchdown. Henry Mitchell converted with a good kick from wide out.
Goole enjoyed their best spell of attacking on the half hour and they almost got over in the right corner. Pocklington initially cleared but Goole remained on the offensive and their second penalty cut the gap to a single point.
Battle again became locked in midfield, and the opposing kickers were both off target with ambitious 47 yard penalty efforts as the first half came to a close.
Pocklington had gone into the match worried by their lack of a recognized middle lineout jumper - but cometh the hour cometh the man. The last time back row Alex Stuart had jumped in the lineout was as an Under 13 schoolboy, but after a midweek training session to practice being lifted he took to his new role with remarkable élan. And three clean line takes in quick succession by Stuart at the start of the second period saw Pocklington unstoppably catch and drive 50 yards down the right, before being awarded a penalty try when Goole collapsed the maul a couple of yards out, Mitchell again converting.
However, Goole refused to lay down and they bashed up the middle from the restart to kick their third penalty.
In such a tight game, mistakes and penalties were always going to play a big part, and another home handling error gave Goole a scrum 30 yards out. They went blind and sqeezed in at the corner, though the awarding of the score followed a moment of comic controversy - the Goole touch judge had clearly put his flag in the air before the visitors' wing reached the line, but he convinced the referee that he had merely been jumping up and down and waving his arms in celebration and the try was given.
Pocklington were less than happy with the circumstances that had brought the scores level at 14-14, and they galvanized their efforts to produce a string riposte. Wing Tim Nixon came steaming up the middle, and though he was held on the line by desperate defence, play was brought back for a Pocklington penalty and Mitchell kicked the penalty.
Goole had a man sin-binned in the closing stages, and Pocklington failed to make the most of a couple of close range lineouts, but they retained control to ensure an important victory.