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Yarnbury 11 - 20 Pocklington

Pocklington got their league campaign on track with a good win at Yarnbury - though it was only in the dying minutes that they made the game safe.
Yara-Phosyn sponsored Pocklington were again without half a dozen regulars and had problems up front early on, turning over possession in the loose and set pieces. Yarnbury took advantage to kick two penalties in the first quarter of an hour to go six point in front, before Pocklington settled down to take the game to the home side and cross for a good try that gave them a 25th minute lead they never lost.
The forwards probed in the left corner before flay half Henry Mitchell was hauled down just short, then play was switched right and flanker Scott Littlefair was forced into touch a couple of yards from the line.
But Pocklington held the position, drove a lineout then released the backs for a run around move to send wing Harry Allen scything through the middle and take two defenders with him over the line, fullback Nick Bennett added the conversion.
Much of the play was in midfield but Pocklington ended the first half on a high note when Bennett kicked a long penalty to make it 10-6 at the break.
Pocklington opened the second period brightly and had the chances to move out of sight. But a golden opportunity was missed after a sweeping 60 yard back attack down the left looked certain to bring a try until the final pass was ignored with the score begging. Then Mitchell hit the post with a drop goal and saw the ball bounce out, and Bennett curled an angled penalty just wide. Pocklington kept on the pressure and finally got their reward when Bennett was on target with a penalty.
But Pocklington infringed straight from the kick-off, Yarnbury kicked to the corner and they then battered away through their pack before muscling over in the corner to close the gap to just two points and put the game back in the balance.
Mitchell came off with a shoulder injury as Pocklington introduced a trio of replacements, bringing on 17-year old Karl Durkin and Marcus Britland and giving a debut to former York University hooker Brett Britton - who took a strike against the head as soon as he arrived.
Pocklington needed a spark of inspiration to seal the game, and duly came as play entered the last five minutes. Littlefair burst clear from the back of a wheeled scrum and charged 30 yards through the home defence before Bennett raced up in support to weave through to the posts to score and convert.
The home stand off was yellow carded for dissent, then Littlefair quickly followed him to even up the sides again when he killed the ball from the restart. But Pocklington had enough in hand to ensure that they held firm to take victory.