POCKLINGTON RUFC were again competitive but again came up short against more clinical opponents as they lost 40-20 at home to Harrogate.

Harrogate are one of Yorkshire's bigger clubs and have always been several rungs higher up the ladder than Pocklington.

Unhappy at dropping down to North Premier level, they recruited well in the summer and are currently pushing for promotion.

They duly opened the scoring at Percy Road from an early lineout catch-and-drive try.

Pocklington, though, established an early edge in the scrum, and, with back-rows Karl Durkin and Jack Holbrough giving a strong lead in attack and defence, they took the initiative.

For the next 12 minutes, they battered away with pick-and-go tactics, but Harrogate had more speed, both of hand and foot, and they made it pay after Pock were penalised for holding on. The visitors took a quick tap on their own 22 then whipped the ball out right where a swift chip and chase brought a converted try.

They followed it up with a midfield break that created another try, the conversion making it 19-0 on the half-hour.

Pocklington regrouped and spent the rest of the half on the attack. Determined defence restricted them to a Jonty Peters penalty with the last kick of the half, but it still gave them a lift for the second period and their pack charged at the Harrogate cover with relish.

When the ball came out, Peters produced a show and go to carve through from 20 yards.

The conversion and a penalty attempt soon after both failed, but at 19-8 Pock had hopes of getting back in the game.

However, their lineout had jitters throughout the afternoon, and, when they failed to execute on the attack, Harrogate rushed the ball to the other end where another catch and drive brought a penalty try.

The swift backs then took Gate clear, breaking through in midfield for two converted tries.

Pocklington fought on. Replacement Ben Rees probed on the right, then Holbrough blasted through on the left to offload to lock Tom Peters, who surged clear to score. The conversion hit a post.

The home forwards continued on the charge, and when Jonty Peters intercepted near halfway he streaked to the posts and quickly popped over a drop-kick conversion.

Suddenly Pock had a sniff of a bonus point, and they threw everything at their visitors late on in search of a fourth try, but it was not to be.