DAN ELLIOTT was the man for Pocklington RUFC to celebrate a 17-12 win over Wheatley Hills in North-East One.

In a gale-lashed game, Pocklington held a slender 3-0 advantage at half-time thanks to the first of Elliot’s four penalties, though they had come close to the opening try twice through back row Joe Brown.

However, they also had centre Billy Hardy to thank after he got his boot under the ball as a Wheatley Hills raider tried to touch down.

The visitors turned the tables to score first in the second half with a try from a line-out drive, before Elliot again gave Pock the lead with a penalty.

Tim Nixon muscled through a swarm of players to touch down and though Wheatley added a converted try Elliot kicked two more penalties.

The tussle remained in the melting pot to the end, though Elliot was unlucky not to seal matters when he was half-tackled as the line approached. Though he scrambled over, his effort was disallowed.

York Press:

KEY TRY: Selby's Josh Cruise

SHEER determination confirmed a superb 23-22 Yorkshire One success for Selby RUFC at Yarnbury.

And in shading the triumph, the Swans ended Yarnbury’s unbeaten home record, stretching back some 13 months.

Selby took advantage of the gales after seven minutes when a high kick into the Yarnbury half bamboozled defenders.

The ball was hacked on and centre Iain Adamson picked up and touched down near the posts for a straightforward Josh Cruise conversion.

Three minutes later Selby went further in front after a wayward pass was seized upon by centre Peter Turner to score wide out.

After 12 minutes Selby increased their lead after Yarnbury were penalised for ‘holding on’ with Cruise kicking an excellent penalty from the touchline 43 metres out.

Rather than keeping with their kicking game, Selby went for possession and paid the price.

The ball was tutrned over for Yarnbury winger Alex Clark to go over wide out.

Another Cruise penalty after 34 minutes increasded Selby’s lead to 18-5 at the interval accompanied by concern that, backed by the wind, Yarnbury might surge beyond that.

And after only two minutes of the second half, Yarnbury were over for their second try after taking a scrum against the head on the Selby five-metre line with flanker James Cryan crashing over for the try.

And with Cody Whittaker yellow-carded for back chat, things looked bleak for Selby.

However, Yarnbury failed to take advantage during his enforced absence and failed to score again until the 63rd minute through Clark.

Four minutes later, Selby surged upfield to score what turned out to be the match- winning try.

An excellent break by Whittaker gave Dan Porter the opportunity to send Cruise over. While he failed with the kick, the 23-15 lead meant Yarnbury would have to register two scores to win.

It wasn’t until the 79th minute that they reduced their arrears with scrum half Oliver Cashman over under the posts. Fly-half Jarrod Huss managed his only successful kick of the afternoon from under the posts to bring Yarnbury to within a point of Selby.

Despite six minutes of added- on time, Selby managed to hold on to their slender lead to take a win they probably just about deserved.

Next up is a derby visit of York, whom Selby have not beaten in league rugby since January 2009.

 

PRIDE pulsed through the York RI RUFC ranks after they were narrowly pipped by Yorkshire Four runaway leaders Wetherby.

The visitors came to York backed by 12 straight wins and quickly went ahead with a penalty.

But RI hit back with an unconverted try for the home side by Rob Cuthbertson to lead 5-3 at the interval.

Two minutes into the second half Wetherby notched an unconverted try before another brace of tries extended the lead to 18-5.

But RI were far from dispirited or finished.

Frazer Land crossed and with the mercurial Baptiste Brui adding the conversion the hosts got back to within six points before the final whistle ended a gallant display against a giant Wetherby pack.