POCKLINGTON RUFC put on their best display of the season against runaway North Premier leaders Preston Grasshoppers, before going down 25-17.

Preston have spent heavily in a bid to climb the tiers and their expensively assembled squad, sprinkled with former Premiership and Championship journeymen, made their first-ever visit to Percy Road as nailed-on favourites against a side all but doomed to relegation.

But they got an early surprise with Jack Holbrough's early thumping tackle and that set the tone for the afternoon.

Tackling machines Holbrough, Karl Durkin and James Flint crunched anything in sight, and the rest of the home players were never far behind as Preston's big men were cut down with relish.

Home kicker Christian Pollock knocked over a 10th-minute penalty to open the scoring, and Pock remained on the front foot until another Holbrough hit was adjudged high and he was yellow-carded - Preston taking advantage of their extra man to score from the close-range scrum.

Preston are champions-elect for a reason, and late in the half battered up the middle then threw it wide to cross in the corner.

But Pocklington remained unbowed and launched another attack that brought a second Pollock penalty to make it 10-6 at the break.

Pock made a storming start to the second period with incisive breaks down both flanks through centre Billy Hardy and full-back Pollock, who duly kicked his third penalty.

Wing Josh Britton departed injured after competing for a high ball, but they reshuffled and debutant lock Ed Liversidge was soon into gear with a couple of carries.

Preston were clearly rattled and Pollock banged over another penalty to put them 12-10 ahead on the hour.

Preston, though, brought on a powerful raft of replacements to spark a revival. They camped in the home 22 and Pock eventually ran out of tacklers as the visitors spread it wide to cross and regain the lead.

Home fly-half Dan Elliot looked to go clear from the restart, only to be brought back by the referee.

Instead, Preston broke down the left and, although the cover scrambled back, the visitors kept possession to burrow over for a converted try.

Pock were still not finished. More big tackles, then a lineout surge saw Holbrough credited with a home try under a pile of bodies. Pollock's touchline kick hit a post, leaving it 22-17 to the Grasshoppers.

With time running out, Pock attacked again but they were stripped of the ball and, after Pollock was harshly sin-binned for offside, Preston kicked the penalty for a two-score cushion.

That denied the hosts a losing bonus point - but they still gained all the plaudits.