Pocklington 30 - 15 Barnsley
Pocklington's pack marched their side into the next round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase with a dominant performance at home to Barnsley.
Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington got an early shock as a Barnsley forward drove over from a third minute lineout for a try, despite the home side's strong claims that they had held him up over the line.
And though Pocklington won quality ball from the outset in both the set and loose they were unable to get it wide as Barnsley's rush defence denied them space in midfield. However, it cost the visitors a series of penalties, and subsequently yellow cards, for offside and killing the ball, and home kicker Henry Mitchell was on target in the seventh and ninth minutes to edge his side ahead. Pocklington's forwards gave notice of their authority with some concerted pick and drive tactics that ended with skipper Sandy Mitchell crosskicking to the right wing where Tim Nixon dived for the touchdown but was ruled to have been beaten to the ball by a Barnsley hand.
Pocklington suffered a double blow as wing Nixon and No 8 Dan Wilson both limped off soon afterwards, and Barnsley went back in front on the half hour, winning a lineout in the bottom corner then bringing the fullback into the line to score at the side of the posts.
Mitchell kicked his third goal in the 35th minute to peg Barnsley's lead to 10-9, then he was just off target with further penalty attempts on either side of the interval.
However, Pocklington's pack tightened their stranglehold up front that progressively wore the visitors down. After home hooker, Dave Birch, had been driven over from a lineout but adjudged not to have grounded the ball, Pocklington resumed the offensive, went for a pushover drive from the five yard scrum and were awarded a penalty try when Barnsley went offside to again kill the ball, Mitchell converting for a six point lead.
Pocklington lock and man of the match, Mark Biggin, continued to control the lineouts as Pocklington remained in the driving seat. Harry Allen, who had travelled up from London to help out with Pocklington's current threequarter shortage, was having an assured game at fullback, but it was his good fortune, rather than good play, that brought the next score. Allen hoofed the ball hopefully downfield from inside his own half, and when the visiting fullback belatedly realized that it was not going to run dead he tried to run from behind his own line, coughed up possession, and wing, Rich Morley, pounced on the loose ball for the easiest of debut tries, Mitchell again adding the conversion.
Barnsley occasionally threatened on the flanks, and they hit back when their left wing twisted over for a try, despite being initially stopped five yards short by a double home tackle.
But Pocklington had the
final word as Barnsley's backs dropped the ball under pressure and skipper and
stand off, Sandy Mitchell, dribbled and chased 60 yards up the middle to win the
race for the touchdown, with his brother, Henry, completing the proceedings with
his third conversion.