POCKLINGTON RUFC had victory snatched from their grasp as high-flying Scarborough took their chances and then hung on to win their North One East clash 33-29.

Pocklington looked on course for victory as they led by 10 points going into the final quarter but they failed to close the game out and then gifted Scarborough the crucial score to go ahead.

Pock battered the visiting line in the closing minutes but Scarborough somehow held out.

The result left the Percy Roaders ninth in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to lowly Cleckheaton.

Pocklington made an error strewn start and Scarborough's backs attacked up the right then switched play left to cross for the opening score after eight minutes.

Pock had no possession for the the first 10 minutes but their scrum led the fightback, driving Scarborough's pack back 30 yards at a set-piece then launching a series of close-range charges before hooker Jim Thornton burrowed over, Christian Pollock converting.

Having had to work so hard to get on terms, Pock straightaway handed the lead back to the visitors, the Boro fly-half spotting space in behind and sliding through a deft grubber for an unopposed score.

Still inside the opening quarter of an hour, the scoring chaos continued as a lineout peel was the prelude to the home pack powering to the line and Thornton again applying the finish for his second touchdown. Pollock's conversion made it 14-14.

Pocklington's next attack was halted when they were penalised a yard out, but more scrummage strength took them back and, from a lineout in the corner, fly-half James Thompson sliced through to set up a maul within sight of the line and centre Josh Britton joined the forwards to be thrust over.

On the stroke of half-time, Scarborough made it all square again at 19-19. Another deft diagonal kick was this time covered by the defence but the ball popped up for Boro to follow up and score.

Pocklington faced the wind in the second period but restarted strongly.

Teenage wing Sam Pattison chased clear from a kick ahead only to be brought back for a foot in touch.

Nevertheless, Pock soon collected a 22 drop-out, Pollock chipped over and collected himself, with a flurry of slick offloads ending with Pattison finishing a sparkling score midway out to regain the lead.

Pock then looked to be in the driving seat as the pack again went on the march from a lineout, with skipper Archie Fothergill getting the touchdown.

That made it 29-19. However, Scarborough's influential fly-half created another midfield try and converted.

Then Pock shot themselves in the foot when they tried to optimistically run the ball out of defence, dropped it, and saw Scarborough collect and sprint in for a gift score.

The next play gave the seasiders a straightforward penalty to increase the margin to seven points.

The hosts threw the kitchen sink at the visitors in the dying minutes, but all in vain.

Will Sayer was felled in full flight by a dubious tackle, Pocklington knocked on a couple of yards out, Scarborough had a man sin-binned for an illegal intervention, and Pock were held up on and over the line as they battered at it in the closing seconds.

The final whistle left Scarborough breathless winners and joint top of the table, while Pock's disappointment at again letting a winning position slip was palpable. At least they collected two losing bonus points.