Pocklington 33 - 8 Whitley Bay Rockliff
Pocklington made comfortable progress into the next round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase when they won 33-8 at home to Whitley Bay Rockliff.
The game gave further evidence
that the Yorkshire leagues are a higher standard than their North-East counterparts
as Pocklington, third in Yorkshire Two, inflicted the first defeat of the season
on Whitley Bay Rockliff, riding high at the top of Northumberland Durham Division
Two.
Pocklington did the early attacking and came close at both corners before
they drove a lineout and flanker Alex Stuart got the touchdown, Henry Mitchell
converting from wide out.
Pocklington remained in the driving seat and after the forwards had been held up over the line, the backs launched a slick midfield move for centre Tim Bolton to ghost under the posts, Mitchell added the conversion as Bolton limped off having been injured in the act of scoring. The Pocklington forwards then produced a burst of interpassing that took them 50 yards down the left before Stuart was in support to get his second score to make it 19-0.
Rockliff's best spell came at the end of the first half, opening their account with a penalty, and when Pocklington made a hash of the second half restart Rockliff took advantage to exert a spell of pressure that resulted in a close range try.
But Pocklington were spurred into response and spent the final half hour camped in opposition territory. A series of close calls and missed opportunities followed until the Pocklington forwards steamrollered the Rockliff eight for No 8 Matt Atkinson to complete a pushover try, Mitchell again converting.
Pocklington remained
in the driving seat without being able to finish off their game opponents until
the last move of the day. After the home backs had taken the ball up the middle
the forwards took over and lock and man of the match, Stewart Rowley, was rewarded
for his efforts as he plunged over for the try, stand-in skipper Mitchell completing
proceedings with his fourth conversion.