POCKLINGTON won the battle of the top two Yorkshire sides in North One East - securing a 23-15 victory against Bradford & Bingley at Percy Road.

The score was still 16-15 going into stoppage time but late pressure forced the Bees to drop the ball on their own line and gift Pocklington a final try which put the game to bed.

Despite going behind to an early long range drop goal, Pocklington had the better of the first half. However, they were unable to turn their pressure into points and had to rely on two Jonty Peters’ penalty goals to edge 6-3 ahead.

Pocklington lost No 8 Jack Holbrough to the sin-bin - although, from the sidelines, there was a suggestion of ‘mistaken identity.’

Pocklington conceded a series of turnovers at the start of the second period. breaking strongly out of defence. The game turned as Pocklington went wide from an attacking scrum and the Bees stopped a certain try with a deliberate knock on.

The offending player was sent to the bin and another immediately followed for a high tackle as Pocklington turned the screw. Stephenson burrowed over to restore Pocklington’s lead.

Joe Holbrough made a series breaks through the centre and flanker Johnny Wood dived over.

When the Bees were back up to full strength, their fly-half scooted under the posts and converted to cut the gap to a point.

The game remained on a knife edge with further yellow cards for both sides following a scuffle in front of the clubhouse. But Pocklington pulled clear in stoppage time when a dropped pass enabled Matt Procter to touch down and Peters converted.