Pocklington 13 - 19 Selby
Despite producing
their best display of the season, depleted Pocklington went down at home to Selby
in a keenly-contested Yorkshire Two derby where the score changed hands six times
and result was in doubt right to the final whistle.
Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington
were without nine first-choice players through injury and unavailability, but
they made a stunning start, their pack launching an unstoppable drive from 30
metres out for Stewart Rowley to get the first try of the day after only three
minutes.
But Selby soon turned the tables, hitting back in the 12th minute
when they pressed in the left corner before switching play right to go over at
the flag and convert from the touchline.
With Selby getting greater length
with their kicks from hand, Pocklington were pinned on the defensive and had to
tackle resolutely to keep the visitors at bay. But they then broke out through
dashes out of defence down the left by fly half Nick Bennett and lock Rowley and
had another go at a lineout catch and drive, but this time Selby held firm before
infringing in midfield for home centre and stand-in skipper Henry Mitchell to
edge his side in front again with a straightforward penalty.
The flow was disrupted
by four players, two from each side, being sent to the sin-bin for ruck offences
in the middle of the game, and after Pocklington had seen yellow for the first
time, Selby regained the lead in controversial circumstances. Pocklington were
certain that a kick to the corner had gone dead, but a lineout was given and Selby
held the position then jinked through for the try to make it 8-12.
Back came
Pocklington and the lead changed hands again as after a clean break by teenager
Bennett they recycled blind and Mitchell dived over to put his side a point ahead.
Despite
further injury blows, lineout tally man, Mark Biggin, went off at the break with
a hand problem, while Rowley and Mitchell was severely handicapped by leg injuries,
Pocklington nevertheless attacked strongly at the start of the second half. They
came close on a couple of occasions, including being held up over the Selby line
from a pack drive, and being beaten to the touchdown by a finger tip after the
ball had gone loose over the Selby line.
But Selby then broke away on the right
to take play to the other end, and the visitors moved up a gear with some good
off-loads and support to send Diccon Edwards, the former international with strong
Percy Road connections from his formative years at Pocklington School, racing
over for a converted try.
Both sides ran themselves to a standstill in pursuit
of victory, with Pocklington almost getting clear with a weaving run from young
fullback, Joe Holbrough. And the drama continued right to the final minute, as
Pocklington had a line-out position seven metres out to save the day. They again
tried to drive for the visiting line, but as Selby dug deep Pocklington's pack
fragmented and the visitors hung on for victory.
Pocklington's defeat sees
Selby leapfrog over them to second in the table, with Pocklington dropping back
to fourth. However, they will take heart from the performances of several of their
youngsters, from an excellent debut from Melbourne-based flanker, Ed Rowbottom,
a sound first appearance of the season by Dan Wilson, and not least, by the all
action displays of their two senior statesmen, Paul Rhodes and Rob Jackson.