POCKLINGTON RUFC snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for the third game running as they let slip a two-score lead at home to high-flying Huddersfield YMCA.

The Percy Road outfit now sit 11th in North One East following the 18-16 loss in which they had led 16-8 before a late rally by the visitors, who had not been in front until their winning conversion.

On Saturday, Pock visit third-placed Morpeth as they look to register their first win since October 13.

A Christian Pollock penalty gave Pocklington a 3-0 lead after just two minutes and, following breaks from scrum-half James Thompson and lock Ed Liversidge, they were quickly back on the offensive.

Pock sustained pressure on the Huddersfield line for the next 10 minutes, boosted by a scrum against the head and a couple of breakdown turnovers, but twice they lost the ball with a try begging.

And the hosts were made to pay as the defensively-organised Huddersfield broke upfield, from where they levelled the scores just after half an hour with a scrum penalty.

Pocklington kicked back into action and set up camp again inside the Huddersfield 22. A series of charges ended with the hosts held up over the visitoers' line, but hooker James Thornton forced his way over from the resultant scrum and Pollock converted.

Huddersfield's backs then showed their pace and, after spreading the ball from side to side, scampered over in the corner for a five-point score.

However, Pock hit back straight from the restart, winning a penalty, and Pollock was on target again to make it 13-8 at the break.

The hosts made a good start to the second half before Huddersfield went on the attack for 10 minutes, but Pock were equal to it and were able to take play to the other end. They held the position and Pollock put over his third penalty.

Pock remained on the front foot, running the restart back into Huddersfield territory, but inaccurate execution again cost them as they dropped the ball three yards out before then losing an attacking lineout position. YMCA capitalised on the errors and, with five minutes to go, scored a penalty to put them within a score.

A series of penalty awards gave the initiative back to Pocklington and, in stoppage time, winger Tom Richardson went over in the corner, only to be pulled back for a foot in touch.

Before Pocklington could recover their poise, Huddersfield grabbed the lifeline and - aided by repeated home infringements - closed in on the try-line as they started to tap and run their penalties.

The inevitable happened as the visitors plunged under the posts to make it all-square before they notched the straightforward winning conversion to take the game away from Pock.