IN-FORM Pocklington ran North One East leaders Sheffield close before going down to a 28-19 away defeat.

With the stiff breeze advantage, Pocklington took the game to Sheffield from the start. After the forwards had driven up the right flank, the backs were released in the middle for fly-half Joe Holborough to carve through to the line, full-back Jack Fletcher converting.

Pocklington continued to do more of the attacking, but handed Sheffield a gift try when they threw out a loose pass that was intercepted to level matters at 7-7.

It was all Pocklington from there to the interval and they went close on half a dozen occasions, including dropping the ball with the line begging.

They also saw scrum-half James Thompson take a quick tap before being held up by two defenders who looked offside, the claims for a penalty try being turned down.

Pocklington did regain the lead and again it was Holborough, press-ganged out of retirement due to the club’s back injury crisis, who applied the finishing touch after following up a charged down kick.

That sent Pocklington in at the interval with a 12-7 lead that could so easily have been much more.

Sheffield threw everything at Pock at the start of the second half and the visitors put in a big tackling stint to hold the hosts at bay.

But Pocklington lost both their centres, Billy Hardy and Pete Massie, to the sin-bin for technical offences in the red zone, and though they continued to defend valiantly with 13 men, the deficit eventually told as Sheffield scored two converted tries to edge clear.

Back to full strength, Pock regained the initiative and a spell of pressure ended with Massie weaving 40 yards through midfield to go under the posts, with Fletcher’s conversion making it 21-19.

Sheffield were clearly rattled but launched a late rally in an attempt to get a try bonus point.

Pocklington again held out with brave defence, but Sheffield finally got their fourth try seven minutes into stoppage time with the last play.