Pocklington 22 - 5 West Park Leeds
Pocklington
opened up the Yorkshire Two promotion race with a
Convincing home win over
second placed West Park Leeds.
Pocklington's success was built on their
rock solid defence,
particularly in the first half when they played into the
strong wind.
Not only did Pocklington have to overcome the elements, but they
also
made light of a major injury blow. Already without three robust front
five forwards, they lost big lock John Tilley with an ankle fracture after just
ten minutes. West Park's heavier pack would have expected to
dominate thereafter,
but Pocklington's makeshift scrummage more than
held its own in the tight,
while they turned over numerous balls at the
breakdown. And Andy Holloway
came off the bench to replace Tilley and
went on to be man of the match for
his industrious back row performance.
West Park missed an early penalty, and continued to have the territorial advantage. But Pocklington responded with resolute tackling from the outset, with prop Nick Hobbs setting the standard with several early hits. This combined with West Park coughing up vital ball on a couple of occasions and Pocklington's ability to force their opponents' pack drives into touch to keep the visitors at bay until the 35th minute. West Park then trundled a lineout up the left touchline and shipped the ball wide to the right wing for a good back try.
Pocklington's response was immediate as scrum half Phil Priestley broke from the restart and they laid siege to the West Park line. Six times a Pocklington forward tried to batter over from close range, when the ball came back to the threequarters Henry Mitchell was just short as he went for the line, before the forwards took over again to be stopped a foot out on four more occasions. Pocklington kept up the assault until West Park's defence finally cracked as Holloway slipped a pass to hooker Dave Birch plunged in on the right to level the scores with the last play of the first half.
Pocklington again had to
absorb significant West Park pressure at the start of the second period. But another
turnover enabled them to boot clear, before Ed Rowbottom and Holloway led a back
row breakout to
take play to the other end. Fullback Nick Bennett was stopped
just
short but Birch was again on hand to dive over for his second try.
Henry
Mitchell kicked the conversion from the touchline, then saw a
penalty attempt
from halfway bounce back off the crossbar, before he
extended the lead with
a more straightforward penalty after West Park had been caught in possession at
the base of a scrum.
Pocklington took control and a good break right saw wing Harry Allen just fail to cling on to an overlap pass at full stretch and the same player come close from a kick and chase. They again camped on the West Park line and were twice more stopped just short. West Park's wing tried to run out of defence only for home centre Tom Stokes to track him like an exocet missile and smash him backwards over his own line. Pocklington kept on the pressure and Priestley went blind to burrow over from a couple of yards, Mitchell again converting from the touchline.
West Park had one final spell of attacking in the dying minutes and looked to have got a man clear on a couple of occasions, but typically they could find no way through Pocklington's determined defence as the home side satisfyingly shut them out through to the final whistle.
Pocklington's victory
moved them one place up the table to
fifth, while West Park are still second
just one point above them.