POCKLINGTON RUFC were left kicking themselves at Dinnington who managed to turn adversity into advantage and scrape a 13-6 victory to stay top the the North One East table.

It was a game Pocklington could and should have won.

But the crucial moment came 17 minutes into the second half when Dinnington had a man sent off but paradoxically gained a big advantage.

Pocklington had just steamrollered Dinnington at a couple of scrums, a Dinngton prop was then yellow-carded for collapsing at the next set-piece and the card turned red when he commented on the decision.

Pocklington kicked the penalty to level at 6-6 and looked set to turn their scrum dominance into the platform to win the game.

But Dinnington had lost a front row in the first half through injury so the scrums went uncontested and negated Pocklington’s main weapon.

Dinnington snatched a breakaway try against the run of play then defended like demons to hold out for victory.

Up the hill in the first half, Pocklington had most of the territory and pressure but Dinnington tackled strongly and took their chances to lead by six points at the break through two penalties.

Pocklington took over in the second half with the slope in their favour and Billy Hardy was on target with two penalties to level the scores.

But they were unable to push on from there and build pressure, allowing Dinnington to get off the hook and take the spoils.