POCKLINGTON skipper Ben Rees led his side to a dramatic 25-22 victory at home to Alnwick as they returned to action in North One East.

Pocklington were affected by a sickness bug on the eve of the game and had to make a last-minute reshuffle. But Rees started despite being under the weather and was the inspiration behind his side scoring three tries in the first half-hour before having to leave the action through illness.

Pock were then overhauled by Alnwick in the second half before being hit by injury. This forced Rees back into the fray late on - and he crashed over for the winning score with just three minutes to go.

Pocklington started like a train. They battered at the Alnwick line until flanker Karl Durkin forced his way over at the side of the posts, Nathan Salter converting.

Then Rees made a clean break up the middle and fed centre Billy Hardy, who held off the cover on a diagonal run to the corner.

Alnwick had some dangerous backs and went under the posts for a converted try with their first real attack.

But Pocklington stormed back and Josh Britton made a half-break to send Hardy curving over for his second touchdown.

Saltmer missed the conversion but quickly added a long penalty and, although Alnwick pulled a penalty back with the last kick of the first half, Pocklington were well placed at 20-10 at the interval.

Pock started the second period strongly only to miss a couple of golden opportunities.

Alnwick then took control and went ahead with two tries in five minutes midway through the half.

With the Northumberland outfit looking to close out the game, Pocklington's cause appeared lost.

But they threw everything into a late rally, saw a penalty drift wide, dropped the ball with the line begging, then were stopped a yard out three times before the ball was shipped blind to Rees, back on as a centre, and he blasted through a defender for the winning score and to also earn a bonus point for a fourth home try.