• Home
• Teams
• Fixtures/Results
• League table
• Match Reports
• The Club
• Mini & Juniors
• Merchandise
• Fun Stuff
• Gallery
• Sevens
• Links
• Guestbook
• Contacts

Pocklington 18 - 7 Leodiensians

Pocklington made it four league victories on the bounce when they won with something to spare at home to Leodiensians despite the visitors' late rally.
Pocklington scored in the first three and last three minutes of the first half. In between they had the chances to have wrapped the game up by the interval after giving an improved level of performance on recent weeks. But unfortunately were unable to back that up with improved finishing as they created some good positions and opportunities without turning them into points.
Nevertheless, Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington always looked in control as they went straight onto the attack powered over from an early lineout for flanker Scott Littlefair to get the touchdown.
Pocklington's pack also claimed the first scrum against the head, but Leos were always a danger on the breakaway, and they responded with a swift raid down the left before missing a penalty.
The Pocklington forwards retained their set piece ascendancy, while the home backs also carved out some good first quarter opportunities. Incisive interplay between skipper Sandy Mitchell, playing his first game for a month after concussion, and dangerous wing Harry Allen, making his farewell appearance after taking up a job in London, took play 50 yards down the right and looked to have created a certain score, only for the support to fail to finish. Pocklington then missed a long penalty kick, should have done better after getting men free on the left, and let Leos off the hook by conceding several penalties for holding on when they were going forward in good positions.
Pocklington almost drove over on the right, only to be pulled up for having a player in front of the ball. But they kept plugging away and just before the break they had two goes at battering over from a lineout five yards out before hooker Dave Birch finally plunged in for the try.
A pack reshuffle saw Pocklington have a few early second half difficulties at the set scrum. But they had no such problems with their lineout and they produced a powerful drive from 30 yards out. It slowed within sight of the Leos' line so fly half Henry Mitchell added his weight to the maul and was rewarded with the touchdown.
After failing to convert any of their three tries Pocklington tried a change of kicker and Mitchell hit the post with a long penalty attempt. But the fly half was then on target with a straightforward kick from in front of the posts and Pocklington were just about home and dry at 18-0.
However, Pocklington's earlier efforts told as they faded in the later stages and Leos rallied to have the better of the final quarter hour.
In some frenetic late action Leos attacked strongly on the right before switching play for their fullback to score wide out on the left, the try being converted from the touchline. Pocklington replied with some determined defence, but in the dying minutes Leos were only a couple of inches sort as they tried to stretch over at the side of the posts.
Another score then would have made it very interesting, but Pocklington quickly regrouped and had enough in hand to run the clock down and ensure that they took the points which puts them joint third in the Yorkshire Two table.