Pocklington RUFC bounce back to beat Cleckheaton (From York Press)

Pocklington RUFC bounce back to beat Cleckheaton

9:51am Monday 1st October 2012 in Sport

BATTLING Pocklington RUFC came from 14 points down to edge a 24-23 North One East victory at home to Cleckheaton.

Pocklington started well into the wind, creating early pressure.

They went ahead three times in the first half-hour through Nick Bennett penalties.

But on each occasion their indiscipline let them down and Cleckheaton pegged them back to 9-9 two minutes before the break.

The hosts then went down to 14 men as lock Tom Peters was sin-biined.

Cleckheaton took full advantage to score a converted overlap try with the last play of the first half.

It got worse for Pocklington as Cleckheaton scrambled another converted try when Pocklington failed to claim a box kick a minute into the second period, leaving the visitors 23-9 ahead and in the driving seat.

But Pocklington’s young team hit back with a try by wing Billy Higgins.

Then, flanker Jack Holbrough burst clear to score from a line-out overthrow, Bennett converting.

Pocklington upped the pace in the final quarter and Holbrough had another touchdown disallowed, but Cleckheaton were penalised at the resultant scrum and Bennett kicked the goal.

Pocklington spent the closing minutes battering at the Cleckheaton line. Though they failed to get the score to make the game safe they pinned the visitors back.