By Ian Hessay

NORTH One East leaders York RUFC annihilated bottom side Huddersfield YMCA 97-3.

The Clifton Parkers made several changes from the previous week’s win at Percy Park, and their 18-man squad contained 11 home-grown players.

In the backs, the injured Liam Hessay and rested Sam Forbes were replaced by Declan Cusack and George Davies. In the forwards, Lewis Jackson and Will Norris replaced Dan Coe and John Aikman.

York kicked off and early possession was with Huddersfield probing the York line.

But it was obvious that the young Huddersfield side would struggle to cope with the pace and power of the home side.

On five minutes, Shane Goulding turned the ball over at the breakdown, York broke upfield and were stopped five metres short. From the resulting scrum, Goulding touched down. The conversion was missed.

The first half settled into a repeat pattern of Huddersfield attacking the York 22, losing possession, and York punishing the visitors with a series of sweeping moves to score a series of tries through Sam Elliot, Rob Hodges, Jonny Frank, Toby Atkin, Luke Stockton, Joe Maud and Cade Robinson. Declan Cusack added seven conversions to make the half-time score 54-3.

With the contest over, the second half was very much a repeat performance of flowing rugby from the home side with good handling between forwards and backs.

York added another seven tries through George Davies, Ben Dent, Rob Hodges (2), Shane Goulding, Will Fordy and Ross White, with four conversions by Cusack, Elliot, Maud and White.

Huddersfield did not give up and kept their discipline to the end.

The win puts York 12 points clear at the top of the division.

On Saturday, York travel to third-placed Moortown for what could be a pivotal game at the top.

Malton & Norton RUFC dropped to eighth following a 30-5 defeat at mid-table rivals Kendal.

On Saturday, Malt travel to Bradford & Bingley, who sit one place behind.

By Phil Gilbank

A purple 20 minutes in the second half gave Pocklington a vital 37-17 home win over Bradford & Bingley.

Bradford arrived at Feathers Field six points above Pocklington in the cut-throat North One East table but left with Pocklington breathing down their necks and just one point behind with five games to play.

It was not a perfect performance from Pocklington, first-half chances undermined by their own errors, but they blew Bradford away after the break.

Pocklington started well. Strong charges by Andy Little and Kym Russell took them on the attack and Christian Pollock gave them the lead with a seventh-minute penalty.

They were soon back in visiting territory but lost possession and Bradford broke out to level the scores with a penalty of their own. The visitors then went ahead due to home indiscipline on the half-hour as they were blown up for back-chat and Bradford ran the penalty right then left for a converted try.

Pocklington continued to be their own worst enemy, twice surging into the Bradford 22 only to drop the ball each time with the tryline inviting, and they went into the interval still trailing and under pressure.

Everything changed on the restart. The first second-half scrumage 20 metres out saw the Pock pack launch a set-piece drive, then the backs took over for Pollock to send full-back Harry Jackson carving through to score at the posts, Pollock converting.

Just four minutes later they forced another scrum in a similar position. Replacement number eight Marcus Britland blasted off the back and slipped inside to fellow back-row Jack Holbrough who powered to the line, Pollock again converting for a 17-10 lead.

Bradford were still in it but Pocklington dispossessed them on the attack, the home half-backs' tactical kicking turned the tables and the screw, and Pollock kicked two penalties in quick succession to give his side clear water at 23-10.

Bradford were now flagging as Pocklington battered them up front and behind. A line-out rumble was turned into a maul and the old Holbrough-Ben Rees double act swapped passes for the latter to score, Pollock knocking over his third conversion of the day and it was game over.

Pocklington still had a try bonus point to aim for, and it duly came from a scrum on the right. The home forwards bashed up the middle and the left to get to within a yard, and when the ball came back right, Pollock sliced through for his side's fourth touchdown then kept up his 100 per cent kicking record with the conversion for a 22-point personal haul.

With the game won Pocklington took their foot off the gas with some slip-shod tackling in the last 10 minutes. It cost them a late yellow card and eventually presented Bradford with a consolation try at the death, but did not take the gloss off their excellent result.

On Saturday, Pock visit Cleckheaton.

In Yorkshire One, Selby lost 26-15 at home to Old Brodleians. On Saturday, the Swans visit Leodiensian.