Champions Pocklington RUFC break through 100-point barrier (From York Press)

Champions Pocklington RUFC break through 100-point barrier

9:50am Monday 23rd April 2012 in Rugby Union

PEERLESS Pocklington RUFC wrapped up their Yorkshire One championship-winning campaign with a 27-16 triumph at York – their 18th successive league victory.

The Clifton Park win took Pock through the 100-point barrier for the season as they celebrated back-to-back promotions.

Flanker Jack Holbrough looked to have opened the scoring for the visitors, but play was brought back to give Pocklington a penalty.

They kicked to the corner and the pack drove to the line for skipper and prop Mat Webber to get the touchdown in the sixth minute.

York replied four minutes later with an angled penalty goal from full-back Jon Dawes, before Pock produced some excellent off-loading to pull away again.

Scrum-half Ben Rees broke round the tail of a lineout 40 yards out and popped the ball inside to his forwards, who charged up the middle for number eight Dan Wilson to smash over at the side of the posts. Charlie Allen converted.

Dawes once more closed the gap with another well struck penalty.

Pock full-back Allen miscued a volley on the half hour and it fell for home wing Hugh Nicholson, who raced clear from halfway to close the gap to a point at the break.

Pocklington’s pack turned the screw in the second half.

When York were penalised for tipping a lineout, Pocklington opted for a scrum and drove the home fowards back for Wilson to bag a pushover try.

Then a Pock lineout steal ended with hooker Dave Birch going over for a fourth try. Allen converted and then added a straightforward penalty.

York, who occasionally threatened on the flanks, broke out of defence to complete the scoring.

The home eight took their chance from a lineout catch and drive and lock Chris Fox got the touchdown.

Selby’s Yorkshire Two campaign ended in a 28-22 defeat at West Leeds.

An understrength Swans side trailed 16-8 at half-time, with the visitors’ points coming from a penalty by number eight Ben Booth and a 12th try of the season for prop Duncan Hardy.

With seven minutes remaining Selby held a narrow 22-21 lead after an excellent Martin Protheroe try under the posts and a touch down by Jacob Robinson, both converted by Booth.

However, the hosts won it with a converted try three minutes from time.

Malton’s superb season North One East ended on a downer as they were edged out 18-17 at Cleckheaton and forward Liam Vaughan needed hospital treatment after being knocked unconscious in an off-the-ball incident.

The visitors forged into a 17-0 interval lead after tries from full-back Ian Cooke, winger Tom Newitt and prop Nick Salisbury, with Ali Heard converting Cooke’s score. Cleckheaton closed the gap to seven points in the early stages of the second period before the game was held up for 20 minutes as Vaughan received treatment before being taken to hospital.

The hosts then scored an unconverted try and a penalty to take a one point lead, while Malt missed a long-range penalty attempt on the final whistle.

York RI paid for a poor first half as they went down 18-5 to Old Modernians in Yorkshire Three at New Lane.

They trailed 18-0 at the break after giving away too many penalties in a slow start.

A much better second half saw RI score a good try in the corner through Tom Greaves.

Fraser Land was RI’s man of the match.