THE 59th John Smith's Pock 7s came down to a Yorkshire v Lancashire student finale, with Leeds Beckett University defeating Manchester Metropolitan University 24-14 in a keen tussle to put a new name on the WS Fowler Challenge Cup.

There was an even more local success in the Plate competition, too, with a works team from a Warter-based poultry business Wot-A-Pullet, featuring a few aces from Malton & Norton RUFC, taking the silverware.

Once again close to 3,000 people packed into Percy Road to enjoy six hours of non-stop rugby between a mix of club, student and invitation sides.

The crowd included former Pocklington residents on an Easter homecoming from as far away as Australia, America and Canada plus all parts of Britain.

Leeds Beckett and Manchester Met provided a final worthy of the occasion, and one which could have gone either way.

Leeds' determination just edged it with Manchester twice making clean breaks and looking likely to score only for Leeds to track back, make the tackle, turn over possession and counter attack for a try at the other end.

There were a couple of last-minute cancellations, but they were soon forgotten as the day produced several nailbiting encounters and the odd surprise.

Woldgate Old Boys shocked their senior hosts, Pocklington, to knock them out 21-17, before pushing Manchester Met all the way, being pipped 17-10 in the quarter-finals.

Bishop Burton College, the 2013 winners, also trod a close and exciting path, just getting past favoured Newcastle students Northern Exiles 15-14 before losing an end-to-end cliffhanger in the semis with Leeds Beckett 21-17.

The Plate competition was equally well contested with club sides Malton & Norton, Bridlington and Pocklington all being involved in nip-and-tuck games.

But at the end, it was Wot-A-Pullet who beat Old Hymerians 29-14 in their final to lift the newly refurbished MB Herring Plate.

The Wot-A-Pullet business includes former Malton & Norton player Matthew Green as a director and M&N front-row stalwart James Thornton pulled together their side, which also included the Ryedale club’s South African fliers, Vus Dyantjies and Xolela Payi.

The trophies were presented after the finals by Heineken UK regional sales director, Duncan Barlow.

Pock 7s Results

Round 1: Old Pocklingtonians 17 Ionians Last Minute 15; Hymers Presidents 31 Three Feathers 10; Malton & Norton 10 Hull Ionians 14; Woldgate OB 26 Old Hymerians 7; Driffield 24 East Yorkshire Penguins 5; York Saints 34 Goodemanham 17; Beverley 24 Bridlington 12.

Round 2: Queen’s Own Yeomanry 0 Hymers Presidents 56; Manchester Met University 36 Hull Ionians 0; Pocklington 17 Woldgate OB 21; Bishop Burton 38 Driffield 0; Northern Exiles 31 Wot-A-Pullet 10; Leeds Beckett University 45 York Saints 5, Brookfield 22 Beverley 26.

Quarter-finals: Old Pocklingtonians 21 Hymers Presidents 28; Manchester Met University 17 Woldgate OB 10; Bishop Burton 15 Northern Exiles 14; Leeds Beckett University 33 Beverley 0.

Semi-finals: Hymers Presidents 0 Manchester Met University 50; Bishop Burton 17 Leeds Beckett University 21.

Final: Manchester Met University 14 Leeds Beckett University 24.

Plate round 1: Ionians Last Minute 19 Malton & Norton 20; Old Hymerinas 24 Pocklington 17; Wot-A-Pullet 24 Goodemanham 17.

Plate semi-finals: Malton & Norton 5 Old Hymerians 45; Wot-A-Pullet 35 Bridlington 29.

Plate final: Old Hymerians 14 Wot-A-Pullet 29.