NORTH 1 EAST
PERCY PARK 3 – 19 POCKLINGTON
After an enforced lay off from rugby due to waterlogged pitches, Percy Park hosted Pocklington who earlier in the season had beaten the home side 23 – 17 at Feathers Field. Pock had already played twice since the Christmas break losing to league leaders Doncaster Phoenix, and winning last week at home to Wheatley Hills, whereas most of the Park squad hadn’t played any rugby for a month, and it showed.
Pocklington were first on the score board on 4 minutes when blind side Matthew Davis went over after securing ball at the back of a line out 5 metres from the Park line. Nathan Saltmer kicked the tricky conversion attempt from wide right.
Park came close to levelling the score when Davy Kay was stopped short inches from the line close to the goal, and was then penalised by the referee for holding on, a recurrent theme throughout the game.
With 10 minutes gone, Pocklington openside Jack Holborough was sin binned for picking up Sean Williamson and driving him head first to the ground in a ruck, and was very lucky not to have been red carded. Paul Spowart kicked Park’s only points of the game from the resulting penalty.
Despite being a man down the visitors defended the 10 minutes whilst short handed and on the half hour Park skipper Andy Dunn was yellow carded for handling in a ruck in the red zone.
Pocklington scored their second try as Matthew Proctor went over as the home side ran out of defenders in the right hand corner just before half time as the Yorkshiremen went into the break ahead by 12 – 3.
The visitors stayed on the pitch during the interval, the hosts trooped off to the dressing room for a not so quiet moment of reflection.
Park had the slight wind advantage in the second period, but Pock’s defensive line was up fast limiting the attacking options. Michael Langlands had already left the field with a dislocated finger that saw a shuffle of the pack, and Lome Fa’atau made way for Jimmy Baldwin who moved to the wing as Guido Danil took up the full back position.
Park were still in the game, although in truth never looked likely to break down the Pocklington defence, but the visiting side denied any hope of a fight back when full back Pete Massie scored the final try of the game on 76 minutes. The conversion took their lead to 19 – 3 which was how the game ended.
Next week Park 1st XV travel to Dinnington.
The Lions fare somewhat better with a 43 – 22 win against Novos at Sutherland Park in the Candy League. At 17 – 16 down at half time, Park rallied in the second half to win 43 – 22 with Josh Hedley and Craig Smith amongst the scorers.
The Pumas didn’t fare so well losing out to Novos III, a ma margin of six tries to one.