Skipton 31 - 12 Pocklington

Pocklington gave their all at Skipton, where they spent long periods on the offensive. But the unbeaten league leaders absorbed everything that Pocklington threw at them then hit back with some high tempo counter attacks to score four tries to Pocklington's two. It was scant consolation that Skipton stated that Pocklington were the toughest side that they have met in the league so far.
The initial half hour set the tone. Phosyn Yara sponsored Pocklington attacked for 25 of the first 30 minutes had strong claims for a try turned down, were stopped on the line on half a dozen occasions and fired a drop goal just wide, but still managed to find themselves 14-0 down to two long range Skipton scores.
Pocklington had endured their heaviest defeat for some years when they visited Skipton on the first Saturday of the season and they were determined to take the game to the home side this time. They went onto the attack from the kick-off and camped on the Skipton line. Skipton's strong defence kept them at bay, then scrum half Ben Rees was unlucky when he plunged over in the corner and was sure he had scored but was somehow adjudged to have not grounded the ball. Pocklington also hit a drop goal just wide and twice turned over possession just short of the line.
Skipton needed no second invitation as they kicked the ball upfield in the 20th minute and when the Pocklington cover got to the ball first only to fumble it, Skipton followed up to score at the side of the posts. Within two minutes Skipton had doubled their advantage as another swift counter from their own half brought them a second converted try.
Pocklington's pack again upped their efforts and after they had pressed strongly in the left corner Rees forced his way over midway out, Nick Bennett kicking a good conversion. But Pocklington again presented Skipton with a gift score to pull away again, initially relieving the pressure with a mark but then undoing their good work with a loose pass to no-man's land that set up the home back row for another seven points.
Things continued to go wrong for Pocklington as they sustained a couple of injuries, and had a player sin-binned, and Skipton's backs again broke out and looked certain to score again until Pocklington's man of the match, hooker Dave Birch, somehow got back to save the day. However, Skipton held the position and kicked a penalty with the last play of the half to make it 24-7 at the break.
It was a similar story in the second half with Pocklington taking up residence inside the Skipton 22 and pressing strongly through a series of pick and drives from their pack. Matt Atkinson (twice) and Scott Littlefair were both stopped a foot short before the forwards drove again and replacement prop George Fell burrowed over, Bennett's conversion hitting the post and coming back out.
Pocklington had another chance to stretch the home side but dropped the ball in a good position and typically Skipton rushed play to the other end. They also fired out a pass that failed to find the man, but the home backs doubled back and produced another clean break off the back foot to finish the game with their fourth converted try.