Pocklington 27 - 5 York RI
After a poor first half showing, Pocklington got their act together after the break with some strong forward play to cross for four tries and pull clear to a comfortable victory that takes them to joint second in the Yorkshire Two table.
Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington were expected to do well against their newly promoted local rivals who are yet to win a league game, and perhaps that created a lack of urgency in the first period. They started promisingly, producing some early pack drives and opening the scoring with a Henry Mitchell penalty, before unforced errors took over.
Pocklington were unable to get out of their own territory as dropped passes and sliced kicks prevented progress, and the visitors grew in confidence as things increasingly went their way. It was almost inevitable that York RI would grab the lead - Pocklington turning over possession then following up with some poor tackling as the visiting stand off ran in a solo score.
Pocklington still struggled to find their rhythm, with one of their liveliest players being the most inexperienced - 17-year old Mark Stringer who made some jinking darts down the left wing on his league debut.
Strong words at the interval saw Pocklington come out for the second period in more belligerent mood, with hooker and man of the match, Dave Birch, lifting his side with a couple of big hits and determined raids. They finally realized that they could out gun RI up front, and as the home side started to get forward momentum, RI began conceding penalties to try and stem the tide. This allowed Pocklington to kick the ball into the corners and with Mark Biggin getting clean ball in the lineout they were able to hold the position.
The home pack turned the screw with a series of rumbles which brought them three close range tries in a quarter of an hour siege starting in the 50th minute. Flanker Alex Stuart twice muscled over from five yard drives and lock Stewart Rowley also plunged in, with Henry Mitchell also kicking a conversion.
Having worked their way into a winning position, Pocklington took their foot off the pedal again and failed to ram home the advantage as RI fell apart, losing a couple of key players with injuries, another to the sin bin, and handing Pocklington further penalties for killing the ball.
More dropped passes and wrong options
prevented Pocklington from moving out of sight, until a strong attack down the
right was switched to centre field where skipper and stand off Sandy Mitchell
powered under the posts for his brother Henry to tack on the conversion and seal
the victory.