Wheatley Hills 10 - 17 Pocklington

Without firing on all cylinders Pocklington still did enough to earn a third successive league success away to Wheatley Hills..
Wheatley is always a difficult place to both find and to come away with a result. Pocklington had their customary problems finding the ground in a suburb of Doncaster, but after ten minutes it looked as though getting a result was going to be easy as Pocklington's forwards took an early control with some excellent set piece work. Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington missed a fifth minute penalty then Wheatley Hills kicked one with their first attack to take the lead. But Pocklington still looked in the driving seat as they kicked to the corner, Mark Biggin took the lineout at full stretch and the pack phalanx drove over from for flanker Scott Littlefair to get the touchdown, Nick Bennett converting from wide out.
Pocklington dropped the ball in a good position after a turnover scrum, then out of the blue a Wheatley Hills breakaway turned the tables. Pocklington chipped ahead on the far touchline, then were caught napping as the home side were allowed to kick and chase from their own half for a converted try at the side of the posts.
Pocklington continued to hold the territorial advantage, and guaranteed a steady supply of set piece ball. But their rucking was less clinical, and Wheatley stayed afloat thanks to some breakdown turnovers that meant Pocklington were unable to turn possession into points. Pocklington were unlucky when Littlefair again went over from a lineout catch and drive but the referee was unsighted, then Henry Mitchell's attacking kick bounced dead with two teammates closing in.
Wheatley briefly threatened with an attack down the left, but Pocklington levelled matters at 10-10 when Bennett kicked a penalty just before the interval.
Dan Wilson's incisive break from the restart gave Pocklington a bright beginning to the second half. But play became scrappy on both sides and for a long period it looked as though the game would end in stalemate.
Inside the final quarter Bennett had a go with a 47 yard penalty attempt that flew just wide. Then with ten minutes to go Pocklington finally found an extra gear. Good offloads sparked a dangerous raid on the left, replacement centre Ben Rees upped the tempo further with a juggernaut charge up the middle, then a well judged kick pinned the home side in the bottom corner. Another good lineout take was followed by another strong pack drive before wing Harry Allen appeared in midfield to feed centre Tom Stokes who shrugged off a tackle and dived over to break the deadlock. Bennett converted, then saw a further long range penalty effort fall a foot under the bar.
Pocklington should have been able to comfortably close the game out, but occasional errors and lapses in concentration gave them a few anxious moments in the dying minutes. However, in the end their quality told as they held on for a notable victory.