POCKLINGTON RUFC ran out of bodies and out of steam at Bradford & Bingley where they were swamped in the closing stages, slipping to a heavy 55-27 defeat.

It had been so different with just a quarter of an hour left. At that stage, Pocklington led 27-26 and looked on course for a good result and rise up the North One East standings.

But the game dramatically changed as Ed Liversidge's strong charge on halfway ended with him being the third Pock player being helped off injured.

From the next play B&B kicked a long penalty to edge ahead, then the floodgates opened with the home side crossing four times at the death as Pocklington's earlier efforts took their toll.

The result - only the lowly Bees' second win of the season - left Pock eighth in the table ahead of Saturday's home match against a Scarborough side who beat front-runners York in a high-scoring clash on the coast last time out.

Though Bradford & Bingley started the game below Pocklington in the table and with only previous win in six outings, they have been gradually improving, shipping in a dozen new recruits, most of them from overseas.

The home side quickly gave a glimpse of their handling ability by creating an overlap try to take the lead after just three minutes.

Pocklington then took over to launch a series of strong attacks.

Liversidge was forced into the flag as he went for the corner, then more powerful Pock carries softened up the home defence and centre Jonty Peters sliced through then stretched out of the tackle to score, Christian Pollock converting from midway out.

Pocklington lost key back-row Owen Jackson with a knee injury, but evergreen prop John-Paul Kelly displayed good hands and pace to take his side back onto the attack.

Pock camped on the Bees' line and forced three successive scrum penalties to be awarded a penalty try and take a 14-5 lead.

Despite losing a man to the bin, B&B stole a Pock lineout and dummied through to score and close the gap to just two points at the interval.

Into the wind in the second half, Pocklington dug deep to take the game to the hosts.

A great counter ruck drove the home pack off the ball and fly-half James Thompson snaked clear on the blind side to score.

Full-back Pollock converted from the touchline then made a 50-yard break from his own line to relieve strong home pressure. But straightaway the home full-back made a similar long gallop from just inside his own half to go clear to the posts.

It continued to be end-to-end stuff.

As the breeze whipped up, Pollock kicked a straight penalty, B&B crossed from a close-range attack, then Pollock regained the lead again with an impressive penalty goal from 42 yards.

That gave Pock a one-point lead at 27-26, but it was downhill from there as Bradford found another gear at the same time as the visitors slumped, the hosts showing good handling skills to cross on either flank, then muscle over from close range for two more scores in stoppage time.