POCKLINGTON RUFC Colts’ exhilarating run in the National Colts Plate came to a gallant end in an exciting home semi-final clash against Wharfedale.

The Pocklington under-18s’ ranks fought all the way but were edged out 27-21 by their fellow Yorkshire representatives and despite a last-minute rallying call from England hooker Rob Webber, who joined the pre-match team talk after calling in on his way home from playing for Bath at Newcastle.

The only previous encounter between these teams came three years ago in a Yorkshire Plate final at West Park Leeds, where Wharfedale finished convincing winners.

This season Wharfedale had won the Yorkshire Senior Colts League, while Pocklington had finished mid-table in the division below, so there was no danger of the hosts under-estimating the magnitude of the task.

The visitors kicked off with a blustery wind behind them and put the hosts under heavy pressure, but the home side defended well until a penalty for handling on the floor put Wharfedale 3-0 up.

Pocklington suffered a further blow with an early shoulder injury to prop Cameron Blair, but almost struck back immediately with a penalty on the angle just outside the 22. James Hanley struck low and hard to try to keep it under the wind but the attempt fell wide.

The home side kept the pressure on and a Wharfedale player was sin-binned. It looked like events might be turning in the favour of the Percy Road side, but the Dalesmen broke away and scored a good try under the posts.

Pocklington struck back immediately. Centre John Soanes made a half break and off-loaded to full-back Will Stephenson, who teased in Charlie Sleigh with another neat off-load. He brushed aside several challenges before touching down under the posts to give Hanley a relatively easy conversion.

A three-point deficit against a strong wind would have been a fantastic return at half-time, but Wharfedale weighed in with an unconverted try to turn round 15-7 ahead.

Pocklington replied instantly from the resumption with Hanley’s kick-off bouncing over the try line for Eddie Dixon to sprint past the startled defence for a remarkable score under the posts, Hanley added the conversion to cut the lead to a single point.

But home momentum was snatched away, Wharfedale taking advantage of loose play to score in the corner. Wharfedale increased their lead with a converted try from their powerful forwards.

However, with ten minutes left quick-thinking scrum-half Tom Hick nonchalantly chipped it over the defence for Sleigh to run through, catch and score. Hanley slotted the conversion from out wide to set up a frantic finale.

A converted try would have snatched a place in the final and Pocklington threw all they could in attack, but the Dalesmen held firm.

Cup success could yet be claimed as Pocklington play Wath at home in the Yorkshire Bowl semi-final tomorrow.