A RECORD Bank Holiday crowd of over 2,000 basked in sunshine and saw some exciting high-speed rugby at the 44th John Smith's Pocklington Sevens yesterday.

The quality of the play steadily improved as the day went on, culminating in a thrilling final which was a repeat of last year's, with the York-based Impalas beating Hull 28-24.

Hull, with their nucleus of former Super League players, and the Impalas, with their squad boosted by Army-based Fijians, looked the two likeliest sides in the competition but had to work hard for their success.

The day took off with the quarter-finals which saw a mixture of keenly contested games and high-scoring encounters starting with a Pocklington and York derby which was locked at 14-14 at full-time before Dan Clappison's sudden death goal took the hosts through.

In the semi-finals, Pocklington went ahead against Hull but the visitors battled back to win with two scores despite having Brad Hepi sent off.

In the other semi-final, the Impalas had to work hard to beat Brookfield, who included a contingent of Newcastle Academy players, 21-5 to go into the final.

Hull went ahead early on in the final, but as the pendulum swung one way, then the other, the Impalas crossed for three quickfire tries and looked to be cruising home.

Hull hit back again and edged ahead and looked to have their hands on the trophy until another late score for the Impalas snatched the title.

44th Pocklington Sevens

Main competition

First round: Signals Regiment 0, Bridlington 27; Guisborough 7, Ipswich Hawks 38; Northallerton 24, Hull Colts 12; Walkington 7, Brookfield 36; Beverley 19, Doncaster 12; Borough Road College 19, Old Pocklingtonians 24; Ipswich Exiles 12, Dartfordians 14.

Second round: Pocklington 47, Selby 0; York 38, Bridlington 0; Hull 45, Ipswich Hawks 0; Isleworth 52, Northallerton 0; Hull Ionians 10, Brookfield 33; Driffield 42, Beverley 14; Impalas 47, Old Pocklingtonians 0; Goole 12, Dartfordians 19.

Quarter finals: Pocklington 17, York 14; Hull 33, Isleworth 14; Brookfield 39, Driffield 7; Impalas 31, Dartfordians 0.

Semi-finals: Pocklington 5, Hull 12; Brookfield 5, Impalas 21.

Final: Hull 24, Impalas 28.

Plate competition

Signals Regiment 0, Selby 12; Guisborough 31, Hull Colts 0; Doncaster 36, Borough Road 12; Ipswich Exiles 5, Goole 39.

Semi-finals: Selby 0, Guisborough 26; Doncaster 12, Goole 26.

Final: Guisborough 5, Goole 49.

Updated: 10:54 Saturday, March 30, 2002