Pocklington cruise to victory

Before Saturday, Pocklington had won their three away league games but lost their three home fixtures. They got back on track thanks to a hard working team performance despite having five forwards missing from the previous week.

And both sides deserve credit for some handling and enterprising running in the wet conditions, with five of the days seven tries being score by wingers.

The best of the lot opened the scoring in the eight minute. Pocklington spread the ball wide from deep in their own territory and it passed through a dozen pair of hands in a sweeping 80 yard move that took play down the left before switching back right for wing Rich Stephenson to go over at the posts, Gary Pearce converting.

Ben Connolly and Ben Hirst both had claims for touchdowns turned down as Pocklington looked to ram home their advantage, finally settling for a penalty goal by Pearce. But North Ribblesdale also had some dangerous attackers and the visiting full back sliced through to make a try for his left wing and cut the deficit by half

Pocklington made a determined reply, pressed again in the left corner and their caught and drove from a line out for prop James Ward to bury over.

Pocklington pulled clear thanks to two drives by left wing Connolly early in the second half. First he collected Pearce's diagonal kick to the corner to touch down, then he hacked on from half way and out paced the cover for his second to make it 25-5.

Pocklington then took it easy and North Ribblesdale's forward pressure saw them pull seven points back when a five yard scrum wheeled untidily and the visitors were awarded a penalty try.

Pocklington still had moments of running rugby left, and another excellent passing move almost saw Connolly over for his hat-trick. He was stopped just short but Pocklington remained on the attack and Pearce kicked a straight forward penalty.

With the last move of the match North Ribblesdale went down the left flank and completed the scoring with their third try.