POCKLINGTON were competitive in the first and last quarters of their game at Kendal - but a burst of scoring either side of the interval gave the Lake District side a comfortable 47-6 victory.

It sustained Pock's struggles in North Premier as they look destined for the drop.

Kendal fielded a side packed with Cumbria county stars, imports and players experienced at a higher level, and they kicked off in palatial surroundings having sold their old home to a supermarket and moving 300 yards up the road into a new £10 million base.

But it was Pocklington who were the first to show, taking the game to the hosts with a series of strong drives up the middle through their forwards - new number eight Andy Little leading the way with some meaty charges.

However, in a familiar story this season, Pock's attacks broke down and twice their opponents rushed the ball to the other end to score 70-yard efforts.

In between times, there was more driving play by Pock's back row, and two angled Dan Elliot penalties, which meant for a 13-6 scoreline.

As such, the visitors were still in with a shout - but then Kendal blew them away with a 27-point salvo in 13 minutes either side of the break.

To their credit Pocklington regrouped. The forwards continued to be solid at the scrum and lineout, where Archie Fothergill was a reliable target at the back, and they drove hard and low in the loose. Wing Jack Walters was commitment epitomised out wide.

But when the Pock pack got within sight of the home whitewash, they were either penalised for holding on or Kendal's targeted tackles knocked out the ball.

And on the one occasion they did get over the line, the referee ruled held up.

After all Pocklington's pressure had come to naught, Kendal broke onto the attack and, although hooker Dave Birch made a good effort to intercept, he was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and was sent to the sin-bin. Kendal kicked the penalty to the corner and rumbled over.

At 47-6 with a quarter-hour to go and down to 14 men, Pocklington could easily have collapsed.

But they again dug deep, tackled themselves to a standstill and spent periods in the Kendal half, and the game ended with a good Freddie Soloa break down the right he was just foiled by a last-ditch tackle.