Pock miss chance to cause upset

Pocklington 21

York 27

Pocklington produced a dominant first half performance against higher league York in the second round of the Yorkshire Shield, but they failed to kill the game off and York came from behind to edge through into the next round.

York had the bonus of an early breakaway try when they snapped up the loose ball after two Pocklington players had run into each other on the attack.

But it was all Yara sponsored Pocklington for the rest of the first half. Pocklington laid seige to the York line, with centre Tim Nixon being held a yard short, wing Charlie Allen coming close from a kick ahead and forwards and halfbacls trying to better through from close range before they went wide. Fullback Nick Bennett arrived at pace and wing Dan Pickard was at his shoulder to score, Bennett kicking the angled conversion.

A York thrust was promptly stopped by a big tackle and a 50 yard pack drive to give Bennett a penalty shot - his mishit kick duly squirting over from 42 yards. A rare York visit to the home half saw them pull a penalty back, but Pocklington remained on the front foot, and though another Pickard touchdown on the right was disallowed for a foot on the line, play was brought back for an earlier offence for Bennett to kick his second penalty.

Pocklington ended the half with a bang. The forwards drove a lineout and the backs ran a series of mazy midfield patterns before Bennett arrowed into the threequarters and weaved 35 yards to the line to make it 18-8 at the break.

York had hardly had a look in in the first half but they stepped up on the restart. A strong scrummage caused problems on the left before the ball was moved wide for a converted try on the right wing. Soon after Pocklington twice lost possession and York took full advantage to snatch the lead for the first time when they sliced through from a scrum on halfway for another converted try.

A good bounce helped another York attack and the visitors were held up over the line by desperate home defence before Joe Holbrough’s long touchfinders returned them onto the offensive. Good forward play piled on the pressure and Bennett closed the gap to 21-22 with his third penalty.

Pocklington went back on the attack in search of a winner, but York struck the knockout punch as Pocklington kicked ahead but York broke from their own 22 for the visitor’s fullback to complete his hattrick.

Pocklington pressed again in the closing stages but York held firm to go into the next round.

Pocklington will take several positives from the game as they measure their performance against a side doing well in the league above them.

However, they will be left with an overriding belief that they let York off the hook and missed a marvellous chance of a cup upset.