Pocklington 21 - 29 Ripon
Pocklington went down to a disappointing defeat at home to Ripon, when the visitors were let off the hook to snatch victory in the final quarter.
Pocklington struggled to get going in the first half. But they had done the hard work to come from behind to take the lead for the first time midway through the second half. But despite dominating territorially, Pocklington failed to finish the visitors off and Ripon clinched it with tries on their only two visits to Pocklington's 22.
Ripon were limited but determined, and had dragged themselves out of the bottom two for the first time this season with two successive victories in their last two league games.
Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington opened brightly, seeing a fourth minute penalty drift wide, and flanker Scott Littlefair announcing his return after a five month absence with a couple of strong charges. But Ripon drew first blood when they played for a penalty from a chip ahead and got it - converting from in front of the posts in the tenth minute.
Pocklington centres, Sandy Mitchell and Tom Stokes, distinguished themselves by making important tackles on each flank as Ripon stretched play, then the pair combined well in attack to spark a raid down the left. When the ball came back prop John-Paul Kelly charged towards the posts and when Ripon killed the ruck Henry Mitchell kicked the equalizing penalty.
But Pocklington were struggling to find their rhythm, and Ripon drove up the middle on the half hour before working the ball right where Pocklington missed a couple of tackles to let the visitors in for the try.
More hesitant defence soon after put Ripon back on the front foot, and the visitors recycled the ball until a gap appeared in midfield to go under the posts for a converted try and a 17-5 lead.
Pocklington were stung into response and forced a scrum 35 yards out in the last minute of the first half. Sandy Mitchell cut a good angle at full steam from a midfield scissors to scatter the cover and he accelerated clear to the corner to score.
After ended the first half on a high note, Pocklington carried their form into the second period. The home backs were almost through only to drop the ball when clear. But the pack retrieved the situation with a cogent lineout drive and Tim Nixon came off his wing to take Henry Mitchell's inside pass and carve through to the posts, Henry Mitchell converting. Pocklington went back onto the attack and a ruck turnover gave Henry Mitchell a straightforward penalty to put his side ahead for the first time at 18-17.
Pocklington looked in control as scrum half Phil Priestley and lock Stewart Rowley paved the way for Nixon to be held just short. Fullback Nick Bennett also came close on the right, then as the ball came back into centre field Henry Mitchell looped left and was strolling over to score when Ripon were reprieved with a penalty for crossing.
That was as good as it got for Pocklington as their first half hesitancy returned and Ripon's veteran forwards somehow raised their game. After being pinned in their own half for almost half an hour, Ripon accepted a series of penalty awards to work play to the other end, and though Stokes made another big tackle to repulse their first attack, the defence was less sure at the second wave and Ripon drove over to regain the lead.
Mitchell's third penalty should have given Pocklington
the initiative to get back on terms. But Ripon were now winning the turnovers
and taking the better options. A kick to the corner camped them on the home line,
and from the last play of the day they crashed over from a five yard scrum to
seal victory.