POCKLINGTON made a winning start to life back in North One East following a tense 27-26 home win against Bridlington.

Christian Pollock (2), Josh Britton and Jonty Peters all claimed tries for the hosts.

A couple of conversions and a penalty from Pollock also proved crucial in the final analysis.

Pocklington had seen a handful of players move on in the summer, but their opening-day line-up still contained 11 of the side from the final game of last season, plus a couple of newcomers in former Malton hooker James Thornton and ex-Ionians flanker Will Sayer.

In front of a big crowd that included a Diogenes reunion and President’s Ladies Day, it was Bridlington’s pack that kept battering away early on and they muscled over for a ninth-minute converted try.

Despite hard-tackling flanker Owen Jackson being sent to the bin, the hosts levelled matters on the quarter-hour, centre Britton cutting back into the posts, with Pollock converting.

The Percy Road outfit then went straight back on to the offensive only to force a pass that saw Bridlington intercept before running away from their own line to complete a breakaway score.

Pock resumed the attack, though, with fly-half Pollock scoring and convert after a couple of forward charges.

The away team still had some dangerous individuals that tested Pock on the break and they eventually went over on the left.

But, after another strong raid broke down, Brid were penalised for offside and Pollock reacted sharpest to take a quick tap and cross to make it 19-19 at the break.

The home side made an emphatic start to the second half and, even though full-back Peters looked to have been wrapped up short of the line, he stretched out an arm to plant the ball on the whitewash as his team led for the first time.

Returning centre Joe Holbrough went on to to make an incisive break up the middle, Andy Little led a series of pack thrusts from five-yard scrums, and Pocklington had half-a-dozen more great opportunities to cross the line and put the game to bed.

But wrong options, dropped balls and forced passes saw all their chances come to naught apart from a straightforward Pollock penalty which crucially gave them a two-score cushion at 27-19.

Brid missed a penalty after Karl Durkin had been sent to the bin whilst, eight minutes into stoppage time, the Seasiders did wriggle over for a converted try.

With seconds left and just a one-point cushion, Pock then conceded a penalty inside the visitors’ 22.

A subsequent overthrow at the lineout, however, ensured Pock claimed their bonus-point victory with Driffield now visiting Percy Road on Saturday.

Pocklington Panthers, meanwhile, lost 24-13 in the toughest of starts to their Yorkshire Premier Merit campaign when they entertained perennial champions Wharfedale.

Gavid Lucas grabbed a try, which was converted by Harry Jackson, who also kicked two penalties.