Leodiensians 30 - 12 Pocklington
Pocklington
went down to a third successive away defeat at Leodiensians, where their lack
experience again cost them dear against a side that efficiently took its chances.
Yara
Phosyn sponsored Pocklington were always struggling after gifting the home side
an early 14 point lead. They might have known that it was not going to be their
day as two of their players clashed heads at the first ruck and needed running
repairs. And they were caught napping and out of position as Leos ran in a 70
yard try in only the seventh minute. Soon after they tried to prevent a Leos kick
going out of play but only succeeded in patting it back infield straight to a
home winger who again went under the posts from his own half.
Pocklington were
slow to recover and continued to struggle for lineout possession, while the streetwise
Leos pack invariably claimed the 50:50 ball. And when Pocklington finally got
some momentum going and created a couple of scoring opportunities they were unable
to hold the pass. Pocklington's best moment came on the half hour when wing Rich
Morley ran the ball out of defence and half a dozen players handled in an 80-yard
move that almost got wing Jack Holbrough over. But Leos killed the play at the
expense of having a forward dispensed to the sin bin, and the half ended with
the home side being inches from a third try at the other end.
However, Pocklington
made a much better start to the second period and were a fingertip from a try
on two occasions as they battled to get back on terms. A lineout catch and drive
took them to the home line before they were turned over, then Ben Rees broke from
the base but halfback partner Henry Mitchell could not cling on to the offload
as he went under the posts. Pocklington came again from a kick and chase but this
time they were penalised for handling on the floor as Holbrough was in the act
of going over the line. All their hard work was then wasted as two defensive lapses
allowed Leos in for two more long range tries in as many minutes to put the home
side out of sight at 24-0.
Pocklington continued to do more of the second half
attacking and finally got their reward when centre Nick Bennett and flanker and
man of the match John Aikman combined well up the right. A series of quick tap
penalties took play right then back left where wing Holbrough dived over in the
corner.
Leos replied by trying to muscle over from a close range lineout before
settling for a penalty to extend their lead. But Pocklington got their second
try when fullback Joe Holbrough was impeded as he tried to dive over on the left,
and from another tap fly half Henry Mitchell's high kick to the right created
a try for Bennett which he also converted from the touchline.
A comeback was
more than Pocklington could hope. But their rally was soon nipped in the bud as
they suffered a spate of injuries that meant a wholesale reshuffle. And Leos'
greater experience shone through as they controlled the later stages and kicked
a final penalty to seal victory.